Narrative:As Flight EA573 approached Pensacola, the crew were told to expect a runway 16 ILS approach. At 23:30 the controller advised that the glide slope monitor in the tower had just gone into alarm (unreliable indications), and repeated this message several times during the approach. At 2000 feet from the runway (at 400 feet agl) the first officer told the captain he was high on the glide slope. The captain then reduced power and pushed the nose over. The captain started the flare, but the nosegear touched the runway before reaching a level attitude. The DC-9 bounced back into the air and touched down hard again. This caused the cabin to break open just aft of the wings (between Stations 813 and 756), causing the aircraft to stop with the tail resting on the runway.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The captain's failure to maintain a proper descent rate on final approach or to execute a missed approach, which caused the airplane to contact the runway with a sink rate exceeding the airplane's design limitations. Contributing to the cause of the accident was the failure of the captain and first officer to make required altitude callouts and to properly monitor the flight instruments during the approach."
Accident investigation:
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Investigating agency: | NTSB |
Status: | Investigation completed |
Accident number: | NTSB/AAR-89-02-SUM | Download report: | Final report
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Sources:
» Aviation Week & Space Technology 4.1.88(68/69)
» NTSB/AAR-89/02/SUM
Follow-up / safety actions
NTSB issued 2 Safety Recommendations
Issued: 05-JUN-1989 | To: FAA | A-89-31 |
REVIEW THE DESIGN AND SERVICE HISTORY OF SPRING TENSION-TYPE WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADES USED ON LARGE AIR CARRIER AIRCRAFT TO DETERMINE AN APPROPRIATE INSPECTION INTERVAL FOR VERIFYING WIPER SPRING TENSION. (Closed - Acceptable Action) |
Issued: 05-JUN-1989 | To: FAA | A-89-32 |
REQUIRE OPERATORS OF LARGE AIR CARRIER AIRCRAFT EQUIPPED WITH SPRING TENSION-TYPE WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADES TO INSPECT AND ADJUST WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADE TENSION AT APPROPRIATE INTERVALS. (Closed - Acceptable Action) |
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Photos
accident date:
27-12-1987type: McDonnell Douglas DC-9-31
registration: N8948E
accident date:
27-12-1987type: McDonnell Douglas DC-9-31
registration: N8948E
accident date:
27-12-1987type: McDonnell Douglas DC-9-31
registration: N8948E
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does
not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Atlanta-William B. Hartsfield International Airport, GA to Pensacola Regional Airport, FL as the crow flies is 435 km (272 miles).
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.