Incident Overview

Date: Saturday 24 March 1990
Aircraft Type: Lockheed L-1011-385-1 TriStar 1
Owner/operator: Cathay Pacific Airways
Registration Number: VR-HOC
Location: Tokyo/Narita International Airport (NRT/RJAA) – ÿ Japan
Phase of Flight: Landing
Status: Substantial
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 301
Component Affected: Rear spar of the wing root and vicinity of the left wing.Rear spar of the wing root and vicinity of the left wing.
Investigating Agency: AAICAAIC
Category: Accident
A Cathay Pacific Airways flight 508 experienced a hard landing at New Tokyo International Airport due to a sudden change in wind conditions. The aircraft’s rear spar and vicinity of the left wing sustained damage following a decrab operation initiated by a strong crosswind. Despite no fire, the aircraft landed with a hard landing.A Cathay Pacific Airways flight 508 experienced a hard landing at New Tokyo International Airport due to a sudden change in wind conditions. The aircraft’s rear spar and vicinity of the left wing sustained damage following a decrab operation initiated by a strong crosswind. Despite no fire, the aircraft landed with a hard landing.

Description

Cathay Pacific Airways flight 508 made a hard landing on runway 16 of New Tokyo International Airport, in which the rear spar of the wing root and its vicinity of the left wing were damaged and the fuel flowed out from No. 1 fuel tank. Fire did not occur. On board the aircraft were a crew of 18 and 283 passengers, and in the emergency evacuation effected, two passengers were seriously injured. Probable cause It is estimated that immediately after the aircraft, which was approaching in a crosswind varying extensively in direction and speed, initiated a decrab operation, the aircraft encountered such a change of the wind that the strong wind which had been blowing crosswise at a right angle until immediately therebefore suddenly decreased and temporarily turned to a tailwind, wherein the captain could not conduct a relevant landing operation with a result of giving rise to a hard landing.

Source of Information

https://www.mlit.go.jp/jtsb/eng-air_report/VR-HOC.pdfhttps://www.mlit.go.jp/jtsb/eng-air_report/VR-HOC.pdf

Primary Cause

Sudden change in wind conditions, specifically a strong crosswind that caused the captain to be unable to execute a safe landing.Sudden change in wind conditions, specifically a strong crosswind that caused the captain to be unable to execute a safe landing.

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