Incident
An aircraft operating an uneventful flight from Cairo began its approach to Beirut Airport under challenging weather conditions. Heavy rain and strong crosswinds were present during the descent.
Sequence of Events
During the final segment of the approach, the aircraft was suddenly caught by a downdraft, causing it to lose height and strike the runway surface. The impact caused the aircraft to bounce, climbing to an altitude of approximately 30 feet before descending and striking the runway again.
Damage
The second impact sheared off the right main landing gear. Subsequently, the propellers of engines number three and four struck the ground. The aircraft then veered off the runway and came to rest. The aircraft sustained damage beyond repair.
Evacuation
All 53 occupants on board were evacuated safely. No injuries were reported.
Probable Cause
According to the official investigation, the probable cause was the failure of the pilot-in-command to take action: firstly to counteract the effect of a downdraft on final approach and, secondly, to react correctly to a bounce to a height of approximately thirty feet.