Investigation Summary
The flight was a scheduled domestic service from Shenzhen to Fuzhou. During the IGS/DME approach to runway 08, the aircraft encountered rain and visibility of approximately 4 kilometers. At a distance of 2 kilometers from the runway, the MD-82 was 350 meters to the right of the extended centerline and above the required altitude. The crew attempted to maneuver back to the centerline while continuing the descent rather than aborting the unstable approach. At an altitude of only 20 meters (66 feet) and 1 kilometer from the runway, the crew finally initiated a go-around by adding thrust and retracting flaps. However, the aircraft continued to sink. Realizing a climb was no longer possible, the pilot pulled back the throttles for a forced landing. The aircraft touched down 1,983 meters past the runway threshold. Given the late touchdown on the 2,400-meter runway, there was insufficient distance remaining to stop on the wet surface. The aircraft overran the runway, traveled 385 meters further, and came to rest in a pond where the fuselage failed structurally.
Final Conclusions
The investigation ruled the cause of the accident to be pilot error. The crew violated established approach protocols for Fuzhou Yixu Airport and failed to maintain effective cooperation with air traffic control. A critical factor was the decision to continue an unstable approach in poor weather conditions and the delayed execution of a go-around maneuver.
Photographic Evidence (1)
Video Analysis
No video analysis linked for this case file yet.
Airframe & Maintenance
Systems & Failure Modes
IGS/DME
Instrument Guidance System and Distance Measuring Equipment used for non-precision approaches; the crew failed to follow the guidance, resulting in a significant lateral offset.
Flaps
The crew retracted the flaps during the late go-around attempt at 20 meters altitude, which contributed to the aircraft's continued sink rate.
Interesting Facts
- 01The aircraft was a McDonnell Douglas MD-82 manufactured in 1985 (MSN 49355/1224).
- 02The fuselage broke into three distinct pieces upon impact with the pond.
- 03Visibility at the time of the accident was reported as 4 kilometers in rain.
- 04The aircraft came to rest 385 meters beyond the end of the runway.
- 05Fuzhou Yixu Airport was a dual-use military and civilian facility at the time.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Airport Replacement
Due to the limitations of Fuzhou Yixu Airport, including runway length and increasing traffic, the civilian operations were moved to the new Fuzhou Changle International Airport in 1997.