Investigation Summary
The approach to Granada's runway 09 was conducted in deteriorating weather, characterized by heavy rain and an 11-knot tailwind. As the DC-9 neared the threshold, it encountered windshear that destabilized the aircraft. The crew attempted to level the plane and descend through the gusts, but the aircraft struck the runway tail-first and then on its main gear just 50 meters past the threshold. This initial impact of 4.49g caused the aircraft to bounce back into the air. During the bounce, the spoilers were manually deployed, and the aircraft traveled approximately 360 meters before slamming back onto the runway with a second impact of 4.79g. This second shock caused all tires to burst and initiated a structural failure between fuselage stations 756 and 760. As the aircraft skidded, the fuselage completely severed into two sections, which came to rest roughly 100 meters apart. Although fuel leaked from the wings and sparks were generated during the slide, no fire broke out, allowing for a successful evacuation.
Final Conclusions
The investigation by the Civil Aviation Accident and Incident Investigation Commission (CIAIAC) concluded that the most probable cause was the adverse weather conditions, specifically strong winds, windshear, and intense rain. these factors prevented a stabilized approach and led to the excessive vertical forces during touchdown. While passenger testimonies suggested unusual maneuvers by the crew, the official findings focused on the meteorological impact on flight stability.
Video Analysis
Aviaco Flight 231: Terrorific Landing in Granada that Split a DC-9 in Two — A detailed reconstruction of the 1992 accident where a DC-9 split in two during a hard landing in Granada, Spain, resulting in a miraculous survival for all on board.
If playback is blocked, the owner has disabled embedding — use the link above.
Airframe & Maintenance
Systems & Failure Modes
Flight Spoilers
Manually deployed by the crew after the first bounce to reduce lift and force the aircraft to stay on the ground.
Landing Gear
The main landing gear suffered total tire failure and structural collapse due to the 4.79g secondary impact.
Fuselage Stations 756-760
The specific structural section behind the wings where the airframe failed under the stress of the hard landing.
Interesting Facts
- 01The aircraft was named Castillo de Butron and was manufactured in 1972 (MSN 47556/657).
- 02The vertical forces recorded (4.49g and 4.79g) significantly exceeded the structural design limits of the DC-9 airframe.
- 03The fuselage broke between stations 756 and 760, a common failure point for the DC-9 during high-impact bounces.
- 04A portion of the fuselage was later purchased by sculptor Eduardo Cajal and converted into a mobile art installation called Proyecto Avion.
- 05The crew requested a voluntary breathalyzer test to prove their competence after the crash, but the request was denied by authorities.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Windshear Detection Improvements
The accident highlighted the danger of windshear, leading to broader adoption of Low Level Windshear Alert Systems (LLWAS) and Doppler radar at commercial airports.
Known Controversies & Unanswered Questions
Denied Breathalyzer Request
Reference ↗Following the accident, the crew voluntarily requested breathalyzer tests to dispel rumors of impairment, but the request was denied by the attending authorities, leading to later public debate about transparency.