ASN Aircraft accident Boeing 737-4Y0 G-OBME Kegworth
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Status:Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Date:Sunday 8 January 1989
Time:20:25
Type:Silhouette image of generic B734 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different
Boeing 737-4Y0
Operator:British Midland Airways - BMA
Registration: G-OBME
MSN: 23867/1603
First flight: 1988-10-06 (3 months)
Total airframe hrs:521
Engines: 2 CFMI CFM56-3C1
Crew:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 8
Passengers:Fatalities: 47 / Occupants: 118
Total:Fatalities: 47 / Occupants: 126
Aircraft damage: Destroyed
Aircraft fate: Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Location:near Kegworth (   United Kingdom)
Phase: Approach (APR)
Nature:Domestic Scheduled Passenger
Departure airport:London-Heathrow Airport (LHR/EGLL), United Kingdom
Destination airport:Belfast International Airport (BFS/EGAA), United Kingdom
Flightnumber:BD092
Narrative:
British Midland Airways Flight 092 took off from London-Heathrow Airport at 19:52 for a flight to Belfast, Northern Ireland. Some 13 minutes later, while climbing through FL283, moderate to severe vibration was felt, accompanied by a smell of fire in the cockpit. The outer panel of one of the no. 1 engine fan blades detached, causing compressor stalls and airframe shuddering. Believing the No. 2 engine had been damaged the crew throttled it back. The shuddering stopped and the No 2 engine was shut down. The crew then decided to divert to East Midlands Airport. The flight was cleared for an approach to runway 27. At 900 feet, 2.4nm from the runway threshold, the no. 1 engine power suddenly suffered a decrease in power. As the speed fell below 125 knots, the stick shaker activated and the aircraft struck trees at a speed of 115 knots. The aircraft continued and impacted the western carriageway of the M1 motorway 10 m lower and came to rest against a wooded embankment, 900 m short of the runway.

Probable Cause:

PROBABLE CAUSE: "The operating crew shut down the No 2 engine after a fan blade had fractured in the No 1 engine. This engine subsequently suffered a major thrust loss due to secondary fan damage after power had been increased during the final approach to land. The following factors contributed to the incorrect response of the flight crew: 1. The combination of heavy engine vibration, noise, shuddering and an associated smell of fire were outside their training and experience; 2. They reacted to the initial engine problem prematurely and in a way that was contrary to their training; 3. They did not assimilate the indications on the engine instrument display before they throttled back the No. 2 engine; 4. As the No 2 engine was throttled back, the noise and shuddering associated with the surging of the No 1 engine ceased, persuading them that they had correctly identified the defective engine; 5. They were not informed of the flames which had emanated from the No.1 engine and which had been observed by many on board, including 3 cabin attendants in the aft cabin."

Accident investigation:

cover
Investigating agency: AAIB (U.K.)
Status: Investigation completed
Duration: 1 year and 8 months
Accident number: AAIB AAR 4/1990
Download report: Final report

Classification:
Shutdown of wrong engine
Forced landing outside airport

Sources:
» SKYbrary 
» ICAO Adrep Summary 3/91 (#9)
» ICAO Circular 262-AN/156 (1-75)


Follow-up / safety actions

AAIB issued 31 Safety Recommendations

Show all...

Photos

photo of Boeing-737-4Y0-G-OBME
accident date: 08-01-1989
type: Boeing 737-4Y0
registration: G-OBME
photo of Boeing-737-4Y0-
photo of Boeing-737-4Y0-
photo of Boeing-737-4Y0-
Final flight path
photo of Boeing-737-4Y0-G-OBME
Seat map Boeing 737-4Y0 G-OBME
photo of Boeing-737-4Y0-G-OBME
accident date: 08-01-1989
type: Boeing 737-4Y0
registration: G-OBME
 

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 London-Heathrow Airport to Belfast International Airport as the crow flies is 518 km (324 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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