Incident Overview
Description
Following a cargo flight from Luxembourg, the MK Airlines Boeing 747 descended towards Port Harcourt. Company policy stipulated that approaches to Port Harcourt were to be flown by the captain. In this case first officer was pilot flying during the approach. He was following a non-standard autopilot approach, tracking a localizer radial inbound and descending using vertical speed mode. MK Airlines company policy was to not use the autopilot below 2000 feet agl. There were other indications of non-adherence to procedures, including the failure to make appropriate calls between the pilot flying and pilot not flying. A lack of situational awareness due to poor cockpit coordination was apparent, and there was a problem interpreting the visual references on the approach. The Boeing 747 freighter crashed about 700 m short of the runway. The front section broke away from the fuselage. A fire erupted in the main fuselage.
Primary Cause
Non-compliance with company policy regarding autopilot usage and pilot coordination during an approach.Non-compliance with company policy regarding autopilot usage and pilot coordination during an approach.Share on:
