Singapore – Taipei – Los Angeles

On October 31, 2000 at 11:18 PM, Singapore – Taipei – Los Angeles experienced a crash involving Boeing 747-400, operated by Singapore Airlines, with the event recorded near Taipei-Taoyuan (ex Chiang Kai-shek) Taipei City (<U+81FA><U+5317><U+5E02>).

The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was takeoff (climb) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

179 people were known to be on board, 83 fatalities were recorded, 96 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 46.4%.

Crew on board: 20, crew fatalities: 4, passengers on board: 159, passenger fatalities: 79, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. Singapore Airlines Flight 006 departed Singapore for a flight to Los Angeles via Taipei. Scheduled departure time at Taipei was 22:55. The flight left gate B-5 and taxied to taxiway NP, which ran parallel to runway 05L and 05R. The crew had been cleared for a runway 05L departure because runway 05R was closed because of construction work. CAA Taiwan had issued a NOTAM on Aug 31, 2000 indicating that part of runway 05R between Taxiway N4 and N5 was closed for construction between Sept. 13 to Nov. 22, 2000. Runway 05R was to have been converted and re-designated as Taxiway NC effective Nov. 1, 2000. After reaching the end of taxiway NP, SQ006 turned right into Taxiway N1 and immediately made a 180-degree turn to runway 05R. After approximately 6 second hold, SQ006 started its takeoff roll at 23:15:45. Weather conditions were very poor because of typhoon 'Xiang Sane' in the area. METAR at 23:20 included Wind 020 degrees at 36 knots gusting 56 knots, visibility - 600 meters, and heavy rainfall. On takeoff, 3.5 seconds after V1, the aircraft hit concrete barriers, excavators and other equipment on the runway. The plane crashed back onto the runway, breaking up and bursting into flames while sliding down the runway and crashing into other objects related to work being done on runway 05R. The aircraft wreckage was distributed along runway 05R beginning at about 4,080 feet from the runway threshold. The airplane broke into two main sections at about fuselage station 1560 and came to rest about 6,480 feet from the runway threshold.

Aircraft reference details include registration 9V-SPK, MSN 28023/1099, year of manufacture 1997.