Narrative:
Ethiopian Airlines flight ET809, an Airbus A350-941, suffered an accident during an attempted landing at Johannesburg-O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB), South Africa.
The flight was cleared to land on runway 03R. The aircraft reportedly touched down at 10:57 UTC, and immediately a go around was initiated. The aircraft banked right, causing the right hand wing tip to scrape the runway. The A350 climbed while diverging to the right from the runway centreline.
The aircraft circled and was subsequently cleared to land on runway 03L. A safe landing was performed at 11:15 UTC.
The return flight was cancelled and the aircraft remained at JNB.
Probable cause:
The pilot applied excessive right rudder input whilst attempting to align to the runway centreline, which caused the aircraft to over-drift to the right and experience a significant sideslip build-up and roll departure on the right.
Subsequently, the right-wing tip contacted the runway despite the left sidestick input.
Contributory factors:
- There was a left crosswind component which reduced closer to the ground.
- Early flare initiation caused the aircraft to float over the runway, and thus, the aircraft missed the touchdown zone.
- No evidence of wind shear even though the pilot stated its presence.
Runway mishap
» Flightaware
FAOR 061000Z 34017KT CAVOK 27/11 Q1021 NOSIG
11:00 UTC / 13:00 local time:
FAOR 061100Z 32016KT 280V340 9999 FEW045 28/11 Q1021 NOSIG
12:00 UTC / 14:00 local time:
FAOR 061200Z 32015KT 290V350 9999 FEW045 29/11 Q1020 NOSIG
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Saturday 6 November 2021 |
| Time: | 12:57 |
| Type: |  Airbus A350-941 |
| Operator: | Ethiopian Airlines |
| Registration: | ET-AYB |
| MSN: | 412 |
| First flight: | 2020-05-07 (1 year 6 months) |
| Engines: | 2 Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-84 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 12 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 68 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 80 |
| Aircraft damage: | Minor |
| Location: | Johannesburg-O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) ( South Africa)
|
| Phase: | Landing (LDG) |
| Nature: | International Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Addis Ababa-Bole Airport (ADD/HAAB), Ethiopia |
| Johannesburg-O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB/FAOR), South Africa |
Ethiopian Airlines flight ET809, an Airbus A350-941, suffered an accident during an attempted landing at Johannesburg-O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB), South Africa.
The flight was cleared to land on runway 03R. The aircraft reportedly touched down at 10:57 UTC, and immediately a go around was initiated. The aircraft banked right, causing the right hand wing tip to scrape the runway. The A350 climbed while diverging to the right from the runway centreline.
The aircraft circled and was subsequently cleared to land on runway 03L. A safe landing was performed at 11:15 UTC.
The return flight was cancelled and the aircraft remained at JNB.
Probable Cause:
Probable cause:
The pilot applied excessive right rudder input whilst attempting to align to the runway centreline, which caused the aircraft to over-drift to the right and experience a significant sideslip build-up and roll departure on the right.
Subsequently, the right-wing tip contacted the runway despite the left sidestick input.
Contributory factors:
- There was a left crosswind component which reduced closer to the ground.
- Early flare initiation caused the aircraft to float over the runway, and thus, the aircraft missed the touchdown zone.
- No evidence of wind shear even though the pilot stated its presence.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Classification:
Runway mishap
Sources:
» CAA S.A.» Flightaware
METAR Weather report:
10:00 UTC / 12:00 local time:FAOR 061000Z 34017KT CAVOK 27/11 Q1021 NOSIG
11:00 UTC / 13:00 local time:
FAOR 061100Z 32016KT 280V340 9999 FEW045 28/11 Q1021 NOSIG
12:00 UTC / 14:00 local time:
FAOR 061200Z 32015KT 290V350 9999 FEW045 29/11 Q1020 NOSIG
Photos
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 Addis Ababa-Bole Airport to Johannesburg-O.R. Tambo International Airport as the crow flies is 4047 km (2529 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
Distance from Addis Ababa-Bole Airport to Johannesburg-O.R. Tambo International Airport as the crow flies is 4047 km (2529 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
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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