Narrative:
Flight 60 was making a runway 11 ILS approach under conditions of low ceilings and low visibility. Descending through 4000 feet visual contact with the ground and water was acquired. The captain decided to proceed visually. The aircraft touched down fast (at 145kts) with a 3 knots tailwind component.
Braking action was poor, so the captain decided to execute a go-around. Ground spoilers were retracted, flaps set at 25deg. The thrust reversers didn't disengage fully, so full takeoff thrust couldn't be obtained. Attempts to disengage the reversers failed, so ground spoilers were deployed again. The aircraft overran the wet runway, crossed a gully and a service road, struck the antenna array support structure and continued before ending up in a ravine, 700 feet past the runway.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The captain's faulty judgement in initiating a go-around after he was committed to a full stop landing following an excessively long and fast touchdown from an unstabilized approach. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's unprofessional decision to abandon the precision approach."
High speed landing
Runway excursion
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Monday 5 April 1976 |
| Time: | 08:19 |
| Type: |  Boeing 727-81 |
| Operator: | Alaska Airlines |
| Registration: | N124AS |
| MSN: | 18821/124 |
| First flight: | 1965-03-04 (11 years 1 months) |
| Total airframe hrs: | 25360 |
| Engines: | 3 Pratt & Whitney JT8D-7A |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 7 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 43 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 50 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Aircraft fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | Ketchikan International Airport, AK (KTN) ( United States of America)
|
| Crash site elevation: | 27 m (89 feet) amsl |
| Phase: | Landing (LDG) |
| Nature: | Domestic Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Juneau International Airport, AK (JNU/PAJN), United States of America |
| Ketchikan International Airport, AK (KTN/PAKT), United States of America | |
| Flightnumber: | 60 |
Flight 60 was making a runway 11 ILS approach under conditions of low ceilings and low visibility. Descending through 4000 feet visual contact with the ground and water was acquired. The captain decided to proceed visually. The aircraft touched down fast (at 145kts) with a 3 knots tailwind component.
Braking action was poor, so the captain decided to execute a go-around. Ground spoilers were retracted, flaps set at 25deg. The thrust reversers didn't disengage fully, so full takeoff thrust couldn't be obtained. Attempts to disengage the reversers failed, so ground spoilers were deployed again. The aircraft overran the wet runway, crossed a gully and a service road, struck the antenna array support structure and continued before ending up in a ravine, 700 feet past the runway.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The captain's faulty judgement in initiating a go-around after he was committed to a full stop landing following an excessively long and fast touchdown from an unstabilized approach. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's unprofessional decision to abandon the precision approach."
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Classification:
Landing after unstabilized approachHigh speed landing
Runway excursion
Follow-up / safety actions
NTSB issued 3 Safety Recommendations
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Photos
Aircraft history
| date | registration | operator | remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 04 MAR 1965 | JA8301 | All Nippon Airways | |
| 31 MAY 1972 | N124 | Pacific Southwest Airlines | |
| 22 JUN 1972 | N124 | Alaska Airlines | leased |
| 30 NOV 1972 | XA-SEB | Mexicana | sub leased |
| 10 JAN 1974 | N124 | Alaska Airlines | returned |
| 14 DEC 1975 | N124AS | Alaska Airlines | new registration |
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Juneau International Airport, AK to Ketchikan International Airport, AK as the crow flies is 373 km (233 miles).
Accident location: Exact; deduced from official accident report.
Distance from Juneau International Airport, AK to Ketchikan International Airport, AK as the crow flies is 373 km (233 miles).
Accident location: Exact; deduced from official accident report.
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
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Boeing 727
- 1832 built
- 25th loss
- 21st fatal accident
- 21st worst accident (at the time)
- 59th worst accident (currently)
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