nformations from
'aviation-safety.net' and
'Civil Aviation Department of
Hong Kong'

China Airlines flight 642
departed Bangkok for a flight
to Taipei via Hong Kong.
Weather in the Hong Kong area
was very poor with a severe
tropical storm ('Sam') 50km NE
of the airport and gale force
winds and thunderstorms. Extra
fue
more

nformations from
'aviation-safety.net' and
'Civil Aviation Department of
Hong Kong'

China Airlines flight 642
departed Bangkok for a flight
to Taipei via Hong Kong.
Weather in the Hong Kong area
was very poor with a severe
tropical storm ('Sam') 50km NE
of the airport and gale force
winds and thunderstorms. Extra
fuel was carried, because the
crew intended to continue to
Taipei, depending on weather
at Hong Kong on arrival.
Before the arrival of flight
642 four flights carried out
missed approaches, five planes
diverted and 12 planes landed
successfully.
Weather information obtained
by the crew at 18:06 reported
a 300deg wind at 35 knots and
an RVR of 650m in heavy rain.
The flight crew then prepared
for a runway 25L ILS approach.
Landing reference speed was
calculated to be 152 knots and
the captain (pilot-in-command)
would fly the approach at 170
knots and would continue to
land depending on a wind check
on finals.
At 18:41, while flying the
runway 25L ILS approach,
weather was reported to the
crew being 1600m visibility in
the touchdown zone, wind
320deg/25 knots gusting to 33
knots. The aircraft was then
cleared to land. At an
altitude of 700 feet prior to
touchdown a further wind check
was passed to the crew:
320deg/28 knots gusting to 36
knots. Maximum crosswind
component limit for the
aircraft was 24 knots. The
pilot-in-command continued
with the approach,
disconnected the autopilot but
left auto throttle engaged.
The MD-11, with a weight very
close to the maximum landing
weight permitted, stabilized
slightly low on the glide
slope. At 50 feet above the
runway, upon power reduction
to flight idle, the airspeed
decreased from 170 to 152
knots. An attempt was made to
flare in a slightly right wing
down (less than 4 deg)
attitude. The aircraft landed
hard on its right main gear
and the no. 3 engine touched
the runway. The right main
gear separated and the right
wing separated. The MD-11 then
rolled inverted as it skidded
off the runway in flames. It
came to rest on a grass area
next to the runway, 1100m from
the runway threshold. The
right wing was found on a
taxiway 90m from the nose of
the plane.
The crash sequence in this
case bears similarities to a
Fedex MD-11 which also flipped
upside down on landing at
Newark.

Category Entertainment

Tags china, , airline, crash, in, the, Hong, Kong, airport