Incident Overview
Date: Thursday 9 July 1959
Aircraft Type: Boeing 377 Stratocruiser 10-29
Owner/operator: Pan American World Airways (Pan Am)
Registration Number: N90941
Location: Tokyo-Haneda Airport (HND) –
ÿ Japan
Phase of Flight: Landing
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 59
Component Affected: The aircraft’s gear system.The aircraft’s gear system.
Category: Accident
A Boeing Startocruiser, the ‘Clipper Australia’, experienced a critical incident during final approach to Tokyo. The gear extended, displaying three green lights, and power was reduced prior to touchdown, triggering an unsafe warning horn. The captain initiated a go-around, but airspeed was too low. The gear was rapidly retracted, resulting in a belly landing. This incident highlights a critical failure in airspeed management during a critical phase of flight.A Boeing Startocruiser, the ‘Clipper Australia’, experienced a critical incident during final approach to Tokyo. The gear extended, displaying three green lights, and power was reduced prior to touchdown, triggering an unsafe warning horn. The captain initiated a go-around, but airspeed was too low. The gear was rapidly retracted, resulting in a belly landing. This incident highlights a critical failure in airspeed management during a critical phase of flight.
Description
The Boeing Startocruiser, “Clipper Australia”, was on finals for Tokyo when the gear was extended, showing three greens. When power was reduced prior to touchdown, the gear unsafe warning horn sounded and a red gear unsafe warning light illuminated. The captain first called for a go-around, but noticed that the airspeed was too low. The gear was retracted quickly and a belly landing was carried out.
Primary Cause
Insufficient airspeed management during a critical phase of flight.Insufficient airspeed management during a critical phase of flight.Share on:
