Incident Overview

Date: Tuesday 4 April 1978
Aircraft Type: Boeing 737-229C
Owner/operator: Sabena
Registration Number: OO-SDH
Location: Charleroi-Gosselies Airport (CRL) – ÿ Belgium
Phase of Flight: Take off
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 3
Component Affected: Boeing 737 OO-SDH (specifically, the aircraft’s main gear and engine)Boeing 737 OO-SDH (specifically, the aircraft’s main gear and engine)
Category: Accident
On March 1, 2023, a Boeing 737 OO-SDH experienced a catastrophic accident during a training flight near Charleroi-Gosselies Airport (CRL). The flight involved two co-pilot students and an instructor. During a simulated ILS approach to runway 25, the students changed seats. Subsequently, a flock of ring doves crossed the runway, causing several birds to be ingested. The instructor attempted to continue takeoff, but the airplane decelerated and ultimately failed to respond to control inputs, leading to an abort of the takeoff and a slide into a narrow strip. Due to insufficient runway length, the aircraft overran, striking localiser antennas and skidded, resulting in a collapse of the right main gear and a torn off no. 2 engine. The aircraft came to rest 300 meters past the runway end, and was destroyed by fire.On March 1, 2023, a Boeing 737 OO-SDH experienced a catastrophic accident during a training flight near Charleroi-Gosselies Airport (CRL). The flight involved two co-pilot students and an instructor. During a simulated ILS approach to runway 25, the students changed seats. Subsequently, a flock of ring doves crossed the runway, causing several birds to be ingested. The instructor attempted to continue takeoff, but the airplane decelerated and ultimately failed to respond to control inputs, leading to an abort of the takeoff and a slide into a narrow strip. Due to insufficient runway length, the aircraft overran, striking localiser antennas and skidded, resulting in a collapse of the right main gear and a torn off no. 2 engine. The aircraft came to rest 300 meters past the runway end, and was destroyed by fire.

Description

Boeing 737 OO-SDH operated on a training flight with an instructor and two co-pilot students. Both students were going to practice ILS approaches to runway 25 at Charleroi-Gosselies Airport (CRL) followed by a touch-and-go. The initial six approaches were uneventful. The students then changed seats. The second student’s first approach and touch-and-go were uneventful. During the second touch-and-go a flock of birds (ring doves) were observed crossing the runway. Several birds were ingested as the airplane was rotating. The instructor took over control and attempted to continue takeoff. The airplane failed to respond to his control inputs and seemed to decelerate. He then decided to abort the takeoff. There was insufficient runway length available so the Boeing overran, struck localiser antennas and skidded. The right main gear collapsed and the no. 2 engine was torn off in the slide. The aircraft came to rest 300 m past the runway end and was destroyed by fire. CAUSE PROBABLE DE L’ACCIDENT: “La cause probable de l’accident est l’interruption de la manoeuvre de d‚collage au moment des impacts d’oiseaux, suivie d’un freinage pour une raison ind‚termin‚e. La d‚c‚leration due au freinage empˆche l’avion de r‚pondre … l’action du pilote-instructeur sur la commande de profondeur. Le decollage est interrompu alors que la longueur de piste restante est insuffisante pour immobiliser l’avion.” (translated from original French-language report) PROBABLE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT: “The probable cause of the accident is the interruption of the takeoff maneuver at the time of the impact of birds, followed by a stop for undetermined reasons. The deceleration due to braking prevented the aircraft to respond to the action of the pilot-instructor using the ailerons. The takeoff was interrupted while the remaining runway length was insufficient to stop the aircraft.”

Primary Cause

The incident was likely caused by a combination of factors, including the interruption of the takeoff maneuver due to birds impacting the aircraft, leading to deceleration and inability to respond to control inputs. The insufficient runway length exacerbated the situation, prompting the aircraft to overrun and slide.The incident was likely caused by a combination of factors, including the interruption of the takeoff maneuver due to birds impacting the aircraft, leading to deceleration and inability to respond to control inputs. The insufficient runway length exacerbated the situation, prompting the aircraft to overrun and slide.

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