Leipzig - Bratislava
Flight / Schedule
Leipzig - Bratislava
Aircraft
Airbus A300Registration
EI-EAC
MSN
250
Year of Manufacture
1983
Operator
DHL Worldwide Express - DHL AirwaysDate
November 16, 2012 at 05:25 AM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Cargo
Flight Phase
Landing (descent or approach)
Crash Site
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Crash Location
Bratislava-Ivanka-Milan Rastislav Štefánik Bratislava Region
Region
Europe • Slovakia
Crash Cause
Human factor
Narrative Report
On November 16, 2012 at 05:25 AM, Leipzig - Bratislava experienced a crash involving Airbus A300, operated by DHL Worldwide Express - DHL Airways, with the event recorded near Bratislava-Ivanka-Milan Rastislav Štefánik Bratislava Region.
The flight was categorized as cargo and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.
3 people were known to be on board, 0 fatalities were recorded, 3 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 0.0%.
Crew on board: 3, crew fatalities: 0, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.
The listed crash cause is human factor. The crew took off from Leipzig Airport at 0438LT bound for Bratislava Airport (Slovakia). The approximately forty-five minutes flight took place without incident and the crew was cleared for the ILS approach to runway 22. The Captain was PF. During the descent, the controller informed the crew that the wind was from 120° at 7 kt. The crew selected the slats and flaps at 25°. The antiskid and the autobrake were armed in MED mode. The ILS 22 approach was stable until the wheels touched down. The main landing gear touched the runway about 700 m from the threshold of runway 22. The crew deployed the thrust reversers. About six seconds after the nose gear touched, the crew felt strong vibrations that increased as the speed dropped. At 85 kt, the thrust reversers were retracted. The aeroplane veered towards the left. The PF explained that he applied energetic braking and tried in vain to counter the rocking by using the rudder pedals then the nose gear steering control. He added that the sequence occurred so quickly that he did not think to use differential braking to try to keep the aeroplane on the runway. The aeroplane exited the runway to the left at a speed of about 45 kt. Its nose gear struck a concrete inspection pit and collapsed. The aeroplane skidded for a few dozen metres before coming to a stop. The crew evacuated the aeroplane. Between the start of the vibrations and the aeroplane stopping, it had rolled about 400 metres.
Aircraft reference details include registration EI-EAC, MSN 250, year of manufacture 1983.
Fatalities
Total
0
Crew
0
Passengers
0
Other
0
Crash Summary
The crew took off from Leipzig Airport at 0438LT bound for Bratislava Airport (Slovakia). The approximately forty-five minutes flight took place without incident and the crew was cleared for the ILS approach to runway 22. The Captain was PF. During the descent, the controller informed the crew that the wind was from 120° at 7 kt. The crew selected the slats and flaps at 25°. The antiskid and the autobrake were armed in MED mode. The ILS 22 approach was stable until the wheels touched down. The main landing gear touched the runway about 700 m from the threshold of runway 22. The crew deployed the thrust reversers. About six seconds after the nose gear touched, the crew felt strong vibrations that increased as the speed dropped. At 85 kt, the thrust reversers were retracted. The aeroplane veered towards the left. The PF explained that he applied energetic braking and tried in vain to counter the rocking by using the rudder pedals then the nose gear steering control. He added that the sequence occurred so quickly that he did not think to use differential braking to try to keep the aeroplane on the runway. The aeroplane exited the runway to the left at a speed of about 45 kt. Its nose gear struck a concrete inspection pit and collapsed. The aeroplane skidded for a few dozen metres before coming to a stop. The crew evacuated the aeroplane. Between the start of the vibrations and the aeroplane stopping, it had rolled about 400 metres.
Cause: Human factor
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
3
Passengers On Board
0
Estimated Survivors
3
Fatality Rate
0.0%
Known people on board: 3
Operational Details
Schedule / Flight
Leipzig - Bratislava
Operator
DHL Worldwide Express - DHL AirwaysFlight Type
Cargo
Flight Phase
Landing (descent or approach)
Crash Site
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Region / Country
Europe • Slovakia
Aircraft Details
Similar Plane Crashes
Regia Aeronautica
Caproni Ca.33
The aircraft departed Campoformido Airport, Udine, for an official but secret flight to Bratislava, Slovakia. On approach to Ivanka Airport, while flying at an altitude between 50 and 80 metres, the aircraft banked left, nosed down and crashed in an open field located in Vajnory, some 4 km north of the airfield, bursting into flames. All four occupants were killed. Crew: Lt Giotto Mancinelli-Scotti, pilot, Sgt Umberto Merlini, pilot, Gabriele Aggiusti, radionavigator. Passenger: General Milan Rastislav Štefánik. The international airport of Bratislava will be later renamed Bratislava-Ivanka-Milan Rastislav Štefánik.
CSA Czech Airlines - Ceskoslovenské Státní Aerolinie
Fokker F9
Shortly after takeoff from Bratislava-Vajnory Airport, an engine fired. Crew reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing in a field located near the airport. While both occupants were uninjured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
German Air Force - Deutsche Luftwaffe
Junkers JU.52
In unknown circumstances, the three engine aircraft crashed in the Tatra mountains, some 30 km northwest of Poprad. All four crew members were injured.
CSA Czech Airlines - Ceskoslovenské Státní Aerolinie
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Shortly after take off from Košice Airport, while climbing, the crew encountered an unexpected situation and was forced to attempt an emergency landing in an open field. The aircraft crash landed, lost its undercarriage and came to rest in flames. Both crew members were slightly injured while the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire. Source: http://www.planes.cz/lite/fc47.php Crew: Karel Kopal, pilot, Leoš Hrebecka, copilot.
CSA Czech Airlines - Ceskoslovenské Státní Aerolinie
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
On final approach to Košice Airport, the aircraft crash landed in a field and came to rest on a railway embankment. All 23 occupants were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
CSA Czech Airlines - Ceskoslovenské Státní Aerolinie
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
The crew was performing a cargo flight from Prague to Bratislava with an intermediate stop in Brno. At 2242LT, the crew obtained the permission to descend to Bratislava via heading 225° to join the approach path for runway 23. At 2302LT, the pilot reported completing a last turn to join the glide when the airplane hit the ground about 10 km north of the airport, near Pezinok. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all four crew members were killed. The wreckage was found two days later only. At the time of the accident, the airplane was off course by 1,500 meters and the weather conditions were as follow: horizontal visibility 1,800 meters, broken at 80 meters and overcast at 300 meters with heavy rain falls and severe icing conditions.