What happened
On 14 September 1999, a Boeing 757-204, registration G-BYAG, was conducting a public transport charter flight from Cardiff to Girona, Spain. During the approach to Runway 20, the flight crew encountered turbulent conditions and thunderstorm activity. After an initial missed approach due to poor alignment and shifting winds, the aircraft transitioned to an ILS approach.
As the aircraft descended, the pilot lost outside visual references. The Ground Proximity Warning System issued two audio alerts regarding an excessive sink rate just prior to contact with the runway. The aircraft struck the surface with significant force in a nose-down attitude, bounced, and made a second, even heavier impact approximately 140 metres further down the runway.
Following the second impact, the aircraft veered right, leaving the paved surface. It traveled across grassland and struck an earth mound, which briefly lifted the aircraft into the air. The aircraft then struck several trees and a boundary fence before the main landing gear collapsed. The aircraft finally came to rest in a field outside the airport perimeter. The fuselage was broken in two places, and both engines and the nose landing gear became detached. There were 44 injuries, including 2 serious and 41 minor, but no fatalities.
The investigation
The investigation, conducted by the Spanish Air Accidents Investigation Commission, examined the wreckage and flight data. Investigators analyzed the structural failure of the nose landing gear and the sequence of the aircraft's movement across the airfield. The examination focused on the heavy touchdown, the subsequent bounce, and the mechanical failure of the landing gear support structure. The investigation also reviewed the functionality of the aircraft's emergency lighting and the effectiveness of the evacuation process under heavy rain and darkness.