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are fulfilled already 15 years of the last plane crash from Iberia, which arose in the Old Quito Airport, now Bicentennial Park.
Probably, Many of you remember that day and the much talked about accident that already happened. 15 years ago at the Old Quito Airport, when the Airbus 340-600 of Iberia registration EC-JOH – Miguel de Unamuno went off the track a little more than 200 meters and stopped a few meters from houses near the end of the track 35.
That day, bad weather conditions such as wind, rain, reduced visibility and contaminated runway, the crew decided to continue with their landing maneuver, resulting in an extremely hard landing at the beginning of the runway, that caused the damage of important systems of the plane, which in the end, would prevent the aircraft from braking within the 3120 meters available for this purpose.
Iberia accident in Quito
Possibly, this has been one of the plane crashes in Ecuador with more media coverage, due to the importance of the airline and the large size of the aircraft. National and international press made special notes for several days after the event, which put the location of the old airport and the need to speed up the construction of the new air terminal in the eye of criticism.
It was two days that the Quito airport at the time it remained closed while the investigation was carried out, The remaining rubble was cleaned and possible tasks were carried out to move the aircraft that was left near an inter-neighborhood soccer field..
It is important to remember that Iberia was suspended from operating in Quito while progress was made in the investigation, to ensure safe subsequent operation, thanks also to a reinforcement in training that was applied by the airline.
Today we are going to review the facts and probable causes that generated this accident, with the aim of remembering this chain of situations that triggered the publicly known events, thus understanding what improved and what changed in favor of air safety.
Final report
Specifically, on Friday 9 November 2007 at about 17:06 hours, The Iberia aircraft ran into wheels in the old Mariscal Sucre in Quito, generating one of the accidents most remembered by the people of Quito and the general public.
The main portal for information and history of air accidents Aviation Safety details the following:
| state: | Final |
| Date: | Friday 9 november 2007 |
| Hour: | 17:06 |
| Type: |  Airbus A340-642 |
| Operator: | Iberia |
| Registration: | EC-JOH |
| Serial number: | 731 |
| Year of construction: | 2006 |
| Total Cell Hours: | 8704 |
| cycles: | 965 |
| engines: | 4 Rolls-Royce Trent 556A2-61 |
| Crew: | fatalities: 0 / occupants: 14 |
| passengers: | fatalities: 0 / occupants: 345 |
| Total: | fatalities: 0 / occupants: 359 |
| Aircraft Damage: | Considerable |
| Impact: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | Quito-Mariscal Sucre Airport (UIO) ( Ecuador) |
| Phase: | Landing (LDG) |
| Nature: | Scheduled International Flight |
| Departure airport: | Madrid-Barajas Airport (FOOD/MEMBER), Spain |
| Arrival airport: | Quito-Mariscal Sucre Airport (UIO/FOLLOW), Ecuador |
| Flight number: | IB6463 |
The official report of the Accident Investigation Board – JIA details the following causes, contributing factors and recommendations:
The plane suffered a violent landing, with the following consequences:
- tires numbers 3 and 8 of the main landing gear exploded at the moment of the wheel stop
- Las barras Lower Articulation Link (LAL) of the two main landing gears broke causing the failure of the reversing system, remaining in APP IDLE mode and causing the wheel brakes to 1 a 4 are released during the braking phase in NORMAL mode
At the time of landing the wind was from the 170 degrees with 06 knots, moderate rain, The visibility 3 km and the track was wet. The aircraft went off the end of the runway 35, stopping after skidding 232 meters in the security zone.
probable causes
The Investigative Board estimates that the probable cause of this event was the crew's decision to initiate and carry out the approach to the Quito airport., with the known data of the state of the runway, meteorological conditions, and weight of the aircraft and not to go around the approach, forcing the capture of the PAPI path beyond the stabilization parameters. Aspects that determined that a violent landing was carried out that damaged important parts of the aircraft that made it impossible to stop it on the runway.
Contributing factors
On the date of the event, the crew did not have specific operational regulations and procedures (the briefing of the operator for the Quito airport, was not suitable for their actual conditions).
- The fact that the crew, that even having experience in Quito and similar airports, I had not experienced similar weather situations, circumstance that would have allowed it to develop an approach strategy compatible with the conditions of this operation; in particular with regard to:
- in-flight runway length calculations for landing
- minimum altitude to start the maneuver to change path from ILS to PAPI
- Carrying out a little detailed briefing that allowed unwanted deviations in the approach.
- The existing weather conditions at the time of landing (visibility, tail wind and moderate rain).
recommendations
Faced with these facts, among other recommendations, dictated the following for the airline:
- That the A340-600 crews receive systematic training in the A340-600 simulator, regardless of what they receive in the A340-300 simulator, through which they reinforce their capacity to act in the face of the differences presented by the two versions operated by the operating company.
- To ensure that the crews assigned to the Quito airport fly with greater continuity to this airport, so that they manage to consolidate a true experience regarding its main topographic and wind characteristics.
- To develop additional actions in order to make crews aware of the need to strictly observe the provisions regarding the conditions that require the performance of a Go Around.
The report and recommendations for operators in Quito, airport and others involved are extensive, so you can read the full report here.
What happened to the A340-600 EC-JOH?
I have prepared a timeline where I show the process that led to this aircraft until it was cut up and sold as a source of parts and material (some dates could have a margin of error):
The 10 november 2007, the day after the accident, the investigation and evaluation of the plane begins and the name of the airline is covered with paint.
For him 15 from December to 2007, the plane was transferred to the apron of the FAE, to be reviewed and analyzed by airline technicians plus help from Airbus and insurance personnel. The affected engines, were removed and the intact ones preserved in the airport facilities. The entire main landing gear system was changed., to be able to move the aircraft with a trailer.
Between December 2007 and august 2008 the aircraft remained on the FAE platform without major changes, but at one point they began to see jobs on the plane, but these were focused on removing pieces and parts to be recycled.
The cabin of the A346, without their screens, which could be reused thanks to their great commercial value.
The interior of what was once first class.
For instance, pilot seats were removed to be recertified and used again:
On that occasion I was able to visit the plane inside and out (I even have some seats on this plane in my home), so I could have a privileged view of for example, The gran is from the A346.
Just under two years later, the 1 June 2009 The last truck left the Mariscal Sucre Base of the FAE with the last piece that was from the fuselage, no known destination, but surely to be a can of your favorite soft drink.
In the previous months, progress was made in the separation of recyclable materials or those that may have a second use such as copper, aluminum and others. seats, recertified and parts of galleys, bathrooms and others were taken to a specialized center.
Finally, remember that the Airbus A340-600 landed again in Ecuador permanently when the new Quito airport was inaugurated and it was right here where Iberia made the last commercial flight of this aircraft, replacing them with modern Airbus A350.
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Why didn't they fix it to make it operational? It was a new plane at that time.
greetings great note
Thank you very much! The problem was that there were no certified instructions and spaces to be able to carry out the repair process that I needed.. It required investments that were not justified at the end of the day.