Fatal Charter Flight Crash at Rijeka Airport (YU-AHZ)

Flight Details and Accident Sequence<br><br>On a charter flight designated JJ130, an aircraft departed London-Gatwick Airport bound for Rijeka, Croatia. The flight carried 76 British tourists and a crew of seven. During the approach to runway 14 at Rijeka Airport, the crew encountered severe weather conditions, including cumulonimbus clouds, heavy rain, and turbulence. The aircraft was lifted upward and rolled to the right, placing it above the ILS glide slope. Approximately 800 meters short of the runway, at an altitude of 60 meters, the crew elected to continue the approach. Power was reduced and the descent angle increased to 10 degrees. The aircraft struck the runway surface with its right main gear at a speed of 260 km/h, experiencing a deceleration force of 4 g. Upon impact, the right wing was torn off, and the aircraft slid for about 760 meters before coming to rest upside down and engulfed in flames. The accident resulted in the deaths of three crew members and 75 passengers. The aircraft, which was brand new, was completely destroyed.<br><br>## Investigation Findings<br><br>The official investigation identified the probable main cause as a heavy landing on the right leg of the main landing gear, exacerbated by an irregular position of the wheels and a 0.7% upward slope of the runway at the point of touchdown. The commission noted that the deviation from standard flight technique did not directly cause the crash, but the loading resulting from the landing conditions contributed significantly. The inadequate handling of the aircraft's controls and engines was attributed to false perceptions or illusions regarding the aircraft's position relative to the runway. The final minute of the flight was analyzed using flight recorder oscillograms, results from an investigation flight on the same type of aircraft, aerodynamic characteristics and stability studies of the TU-134A, meteorological analysis, and crew statements. The commission concluded that the accident was an exceptional and complex case involving multiple unfavorable circumstances.