A McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30F was operating a freight flight from Miami International Airport (Florida, USA) to Bogotá-Eldorado Airport (Colombia). A crew of three was onboard the aircraft.
The aircraft in its final position (© Wilber B.)
After an uneventful night flight from Miami, the aircraft is vectored to the approach of runway 13L at Bogota. Runway 13L at Bogota is 12467 feet (3800 meters long). Shortly before 04.00 at night the flight is cleared to land. While on the final approach the aircraft became unstable and the aircraft descended below the glideslope, causing the GPWS (Ground Proximity Warning System) to sound 5 times;
T0o Low, Terrain - Too Low, Terrain
Too Low, Terrain
Sink Rate, Whoop, Whoop, Pull Up
Whoop, Whoop, Pull Up
Too Low, Terrain
The captain responded to the GWPS warnings by adding thrust and gaining altitude, resulting in the aircraft climbing above the glide path.
The approach was continued and the aircraft crossed the threshold at an excessively high speed, of 180 knots. The aircraft touched down 1500 feet past the threshold of the runway. Due to the high speed and late touchdown, the distance remaining was not enough to stop the aircraft, although the crew initiated braking and reverse thrust on touchdown.
Close-up of the starboard side of the aircraft (© Wilber B.)
This caused the aircraft to over the runway rolling onto the soft ground.
The landing gear was torn from the fuselage before it collided with the ILS Localiser antenna for runway 13L.
As the aircraft slid on its belly both engine #1 and #3 (lefthand and righthand) were torn from the wings. Several hundred meters past the runway edge the aircraft finally came to a rest in a grass field.
Close-up of the port side of the aircraft (© Wilber B.)
After performing the emergency shutdown checklist all crew members evacuated the aircraft. There were no injuries to the crew, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
The accident was investigated by the Grupo Investigación de Accidentes of the republic of Columbia. In their report (in Spanish) they identified the following probable cause (translated from Spanish);
"The runway overrun was a result of the following factors;
- High speed (180 knots)
- Late touchdown (1500 feet from the threshold)
- Spoilers were not deployed
- Less effective braking due to hydroplaning
- The decision of the crew to continue a non stabilised approach - Checklist items omitted
- Incorrect response to GPWS warnings on final approach"
The accident report (in Spanish) is available for your reference by clicking here.
Debris field looking back from the wreckage towards the runway (source baaa-acro.com © unknow)
Editorial note;
This blog was written based on different sources on the internet and translated sections of the official investigation report. V2 Aviation - Training & Maintenance has not been able to find an accident investigation report in English on this runway overrun. In case there are inconsistencies in this blog don't hesitate to get in touch via the comments function at the bottom of this page.
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