Incident Overview

Date: Saturday 29 August 1998
Aircraft Type: Tupolev Tu-154M
Owner/operator: Cubana de Aviaci¢n
Registration Number: CU-T1264
Location: Quito-Mariscal Sucre Airport (UIO) – ÿ Ecuador
Phase of Flight: Take off
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 70 / Occupants: 91
Component Affected: Airframe (specifically, the engine systems and control systems)Airframe (specifically, the engine systems and control systems)
Category: Accident
A Cubana Flight 389, a Tupolev Tu-154M, experienced a significant incident during its departure from Guayaquil, resulting in a collision with a soccer field. The initial engine start triggered a pneumatic valve blockage, which was rectified, and two engines were successfully started with ground power. However, the aircraft subsequently failed to rotate, requiring a 10-second abort and subsequent application of brakes. The crew, due to a prolonged checklist delay and a significant time elapsed between the start-up and takeoff, failed to properly execute taxiing procedures, leading to the overshot landing and impact with a soccer field.A Cubana Flight 389, a Tupolev Tu-154M, experienced a significant incident during its departure from Guayaquil, resulting in a collision with a soccer field. The initial engine start triggered a pneumatic valve blockage, which was rectified, and two engines were successfully started with ground power. However, the aircraft subsequently failed to rotate, requiring a 10-second abort and subsequent application of brakes. The crew, due to a prolonged checklist delay and a significant time elapsed between the start-up and takeoff, failed to properly execute taxiing procedures, leading to the overshot landing and impact with a soccer field.

Description

Cubana Flight 389, a Tupolev Tu-154M, was preparing for departure back to Havana with a planned en route stop at Guayaquil. During the first engine start a pneumatic valve was blocked. The problem was rectified and two engines were started with ground power. The third one was started as the aircraft taxied to the runway. After obtaining takeoff clearance, the throttles were advanced and the airplane accelerated down runway 35. When the aircraft reached the Vr speed, it would not rotate. It took the crew 10 seconds to decide to abort the takeoff. With 800 m of runway length remaining, brakes were applied. The Tu-154 overshot the runway and plowed into a soccer field. The plane barely missed a residential area. It is presumed that because of the problems during start-up and the time, almost 38 minutes, that passed to the beginning of takeoff, the final point of the checklist for taxiing was not complied with and the crew forgot to select the switches for the hydraulic valves of the control system.

Primary Cause

Checklist compliance and time elapsed during the start-up process.Checklist compliance and time elapsed during the start-up process.

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