Narrative:
Cubana Flight 389, a Tupolev Tu-154M, was preparing for departure back to Havana with a planned en route stop at Guayaquil. During the first engine start a pneumatic valve was blocked. The problem was rectified and two engines were started with ground power. The third one was started as the aircraft taxied to the runway. After obtaining takeoff clearance, the throttles were advanced and the airplane accelerated down runway 17. When the aircraft reached the Vr speed, it would not rotate. It took the crew 10 seconds to decide to abort the takeoff. With 800 m of runway length remaining, brakes were applied. The Tu-154 overshot the runway and plowed into a soccer field. The plane barely missed a residential area.
It is presumed that because of the problems during start-up and the time, almost 38 minutes, that passed to the beginning of takeoff, the final point of the checklist for taxiing was not complied with and the crew forgot to select the switches for the hydraulic valves of the control system.
Runway excursion
» ICAO Adrep Summary 5/01 (#17)
accident date: 29-08-1998
type: Tupolev Tu-154M
registration: CU-T1264
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Saturday 29 August 1998 |
| Time: | 13:03 |
| Type: |  Tupolev Tu-154M |
| Operator: | Cubana de Aviación |
| Registration: | CU-T1264 |
| MSN: | 85A720 |
| First flight: | 1985 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 9256 |
| Engines: | 3 Soloviev D-30KU-154-II |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 14 / Occupants: 14 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 56 / Occupants: 77 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 70 / Occupants: 91 |
| Ground casualties: | Fatalities: 10 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Aircraft fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | Quito-Mariscal Sucre Airport (UIO) ( Ecuador)
|
| Crash site elevation: | 2813 m (9229 feet) amsl |
| Phase: | Takeoff (TOF) |
| Nature: | International Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Quito-Mariscal Sucre Airport (UIO/SEQU), Ecuador |
| Guayaquil-Simon Bolivar Airport (GYE/SEGU), Ecuador | |
| Flightnumber: | CU389 |
Cubana Flight 389, a Tupolev Tu-154M, was preparing for departure back to Havana with a planned en route stop at Guayaquil. During the first engine start a pneumatic valve was blocked. The problem was rectified and two engines were started with ground power. The third one was started as the aircraft taxied to the runway. After obtaining takeoff clearance, the throttles were advanced and the airplane accelerated down runway 17. When the aircraft reached the Vr speed, it would not rotate. It took the crew 10 seconds to decide to abort the takeoff. With 800 m of runway length remaining, brakes were applied. The Tu-154 overshot the runway and plowed into a soccer field. The plane barely missed a residential area.
It is presumed that because of the problems during start-up and the time, almost 38 minutes, that passed to the beginning of takeoff, the final point of the checklist for taxiing was not complied with and the crew forgot to select the switches for the hydraulic valves of the control system.
Classification:
Rejected takeoffRunway excursion
Sources:
» ICAO Adrep Summary 5/98 (#158)» ICAO Adrep Summary 5/01 (#17)
Photos
accident date: 29-08-1998
type: Tupolev Tu-154M
registration: CU-T1264
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 Quito-Mariscal Sucre Airport to Guayaquil-Simon Bolivar Airport as the crow flies is 271 km (170 miles).
Distance from Quito-Mariscal Sucre Airport to Guayaquil-Simon Bolivar Airport as the crow flies is 271 km (170 miles).
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.
languages: 
Ecuador
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Tupolev Tu-154
- 1026 built
- 54th loss
- 27th fatal accident
- 13th worst accident (at the time)
- 19th worst accident (currently)
Ecuador- 2nd worst accident
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