Introduction
On December 13, 2018, China Airlines Flight CI6844, a scheduled cargo service from Hong Kong International Airport to Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, was operated by a Boeing 747-409F aircraft, registration B-18717. The flight departed Hong Kong at 2308 local time with two pilots on board. At 0019:46 on December 14, the aircraft landed on runway 05L at Taoyuan Airport, with the touchdown point located 21 meters before the runway threshold (pre-threshold area). The landing resulted in damage to three runway lights; both pilots were safe.
Aircraft and Crew
The aircraft was a Boeing 747-409F, a freighter variant, powered by four engines. The crew consisted of a captain and a first officer. Both pilots held valid licenses and medical certificates from the Civil Aeronautics Administration, and no drug or alcohol factors were identified that could have affected their performance.
Flight History
During the approach, the first officer was the pilot flying. The aircraft was on an instrument landing system approach to runway 05L. As the aircraft descended, the first officer failed to properly manage pitch attitude and thrust, resulting in an unstable approach. The Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System (EGPWS) issued a "Sink Rate" alert at radio altitude below 100 feet, and the aircraft continued to descend rapidly. The captain did not intervene or call for a go-around. The aircraft touched down short of the runway, impacting the runway lights.
Damage
The landing caused damage to three runway threshold lights. The aircraft itself sustained no major structural damage; after the incident, the aircraft was inspected, tires were replaced, and it continued to operate subsequent flights. No other aircraft or ground vehicles were involved.
Weather and Environmental Factors
Weather conditions at the time were within the aircraft's approach and landing limitations. No significant wind shear or turbulence was encountered from 2,000 feet radio altitude to touchdown. The aircraft's weight and balance were within prescribed limits.
Probable Cause Findings
According to the investigation report, the probable cause of the accident was twofold: 1. The first officer's inability to effectively manage pitch and thrust during the approach and landing, leading to an improper flare timing and a hard landing short of the runway. 2. The captain's lack of vigilance regarding the junior first officer's performance and failure to take over control or initiate a go-around when the aircraft deviated from normal parameters.
Additionally, the report identified that China Airlines' "Junior Pilot Competency Tracking Program" was not effective in ensuring the first officer's manual landing proficiency. The flight crew also did not report the off-runway landing to air traffic control or the airline, posing a foreign object debris risk.
Other Findings
- The first officer had limited experience, but no training deficiencies were noted in his records.
- The captain may have been experiencing fatigue due to insufficient sleep and prolonged wakefulness, potentially affecting his alertness.
- The cockpit voice recorder did not capture the incident as it was overwritten after the aircraft continued operations.
- The runway inspection after the event initially missed the damaged lights because jet blast from a departing aircraft may have blown debris away.