Incident Overview

Date: Tuesday 14 September 1993
Aircraft Type: Airbus A320-211
Owner/operator: Lufthansa
Registration Number: D-AIPN
Location: Warszawa-Okecie Airport (WAW) – ÿ Poland
Phase of Flight: Landing
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 70
Component Affected: Aircraft wheels and wingAircraft wheels and wing
Investigating Agency: MCAAI WarsawMCAAI Warsaw
Category: Accident
An Airbus aircraft encountered windshear during a Warsaw runway 11 approach, resulting in a landing accident. The aircraft’s right gear touched down 770 meters from the threshold, while the left gear touched down 9 seconds later at 1525 meters. The pilot initiated ground spoilers and engine thrust reversals to mitigate the landing distance. The wheels began operating after 4 seconds, and the aircraft steered off the runway to the right. A fire erupted in the left wing area, impacting the passenger cabin. The accident was likely caused by incorrect decisions and actions regarding windshear information received during the approach, exacerbated by wind parameters and heavy rain at the aerodrome.An Airbus aircraft encountered windshear during a Warsaw runway 11 approach, resulting in a landing accident. The aircraft’s right gear touched down 770 meters from the threshold, while the left gear touched down 9 seconds later at 1525 meters. The pilot initiated ground spoilers and engine thrust reversals to mitigate the landing distance. The wheels began operating after 4 seconds, and the aircraft steered off the runway to the right. A fire erupted in the left wing area, impacting the passenger cabin. The accident was likely caused by incorrect decisions and actions regarding windshear information received during the approach, exacerbated by wind parameters and heavy rain at the aerodrome.

Description

The aircraft was cleared for a Warsaw runway 11 approach and were told of the existence of windshear on the approach. The Airbus’ right gear touched down 770 m from the runway 11 threshold. The left gear touched down 9 seconds later, 1525 m from the threshold. Only when the left gear touched the runway, automatic systems depending on oleo strut (shock absorber) compression unlocked the use of ground spoilers and engine thrust reversers. The wheel brakes, depending on wheel rotation being equivalent of circumfential speed of 72 knots began to operate after about 4 seconds. Seeing the approaching end of the runway and the obstacle behind it, the pilot steered the aircraft off the runway to the right. The aircraft left the runway at a speed of 72 knots and rolled 90 m before it hit the embankment and an LLZ aerial with the left wing. A fire started in the left wing area and penetrated into the passenger cabin. PROBABLE CAUSE: “Cause of the accident were incorrect decisions and actions of the flight crew taken in situation when the information about windshear at the approach to the runway was received. Windshear was produced by the front just passing the aerodrome; the front was accompanied by intensive variation of wind parameters as well as by heavy rain on the aerodrome itself. Actions of the flight crew were also affected by design features of the aircraft which limited the feasibility of applying available braking systems as well as by insufficient information in the aircraft operations manual (AOM) relating to the increase of the landing distance.”

Primary Cause

Incorrect decisions and actions regarding windshear information received during the approach to the runway.Incorrect decisions and actions regarding windshear information received during the approach to the runway.

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