China Yunnan Airlines | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

Shortly after takeoff from runway 13 at Baotou Airport, while in initial climb, the aircraft encountered difficulties to maintain a positive rate of climb. It stalled, collided with a small house and eventually crashed in the icy lake of the Nanhai Park. The wreckage was found about 2 km from the airport and all 53 occupants were killed as well as two people in the house.

Probable cause:

Loss of lift and subsequent stall after takeoff due to an excessive accumulation of ice and frost on wings, tail and fuselage. It was determined that the aircraft remained parked outside, on the ramp, all preceding night by negative temperature and that the crew failed to deice the airplane prior to takeoff.

Crash of a Boeing 737-3W0 in Kunming

Date & Time: Jul 20, 1994 at 2226 LT

Type of aircraft:

Boeing 737-300

Operator:

Registration:

B-2540

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

27139

YOM:

1992

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

140

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The approach to Kunming-Wujiaba Airport runway 03 was completed in poor weather conditions with heavy rain falls. Following a wrong approach configuration, the crew landed at an excessive speed of 170 knots and the aircraft touched down 2,500 feet past the runway threshold. On a wet runway surface, the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran, struck approach lights and the ILS antenna, lost its nose gear and came to rest. All 148 occupants were rescued, among them 15 passengers were slightly injured. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Wrong approach configuration on part of the crew who completed the approach while too high on the glide. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Poor crew coordination,
- The crew failed to follow the approach and landing checklist,
- The crew failed to check instruments while on approach,
- The aircraft was unstable on approach,
- Poor weather conditions,
- The runway surface was wet and the braking action was reduced,
- The approach and landing speed was excessive (50 knots above standard speed),
- The aircraft landed too far down the runway (2,500 feet past the runway threshold), reducing the landing distance,
- The crew failed to initiate a go-around procedure.