Martinair MP 495
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| Summary | |
|---|---|
| Date | December 21, 1992 |
| Type | Microburst-induced wind shear |
| Site | Faro, Portugal |
| Fatalities | 56 |
| Injuries | 106 |
| Aircraft | |
| Aircraft type | DC-10 |
| Operator | Martinair |
| Passengers | 327 |
| Crew | 13 |
| Survivors | 284 |
Martinair MP 495 was the flight number of a Dutch DC-10 that crash-landed on runway 11 of the airport of Faro, Portugal, in severe weather conditions, in 1992. The airplane carried 327 passengers and 13 crew members on board, mainly vacationers from The Netherlands. 54 passengers, and 2 crew members died, and 106 persons were badly injured.
[edit] Approach and landing
Following one unsuccessful attempt to land the crew was executing a VOR/DME procedure approach to runway 11 when the aircraft flew through at least 2 microbursts caused by a large thunderstorm, which was accompanied by heavy rain, windshear, and low clouds.
The Tower informed the crew that there was a thunderstorm activity near the airport, and there was water on the runway. The plane landed with an excessive vertical speed, which exceeded the manufacturer's design.
Following a hard landing the starboard main gear collapsed with fire erupting after the right wing fuel tank ignited. The DC-10 cracked in 2 and came to a rest with the front section laying on its side.
[edit] Cause
The cause of the accident was put down to bad weather conditions and major errors on behalf of the crew who to failed to interpret the conditions of the runway and the conditions on final approach.
[edit] Trivia
The accident caused a shock in the Netherlands, mainly because the accident happened just 3 months after a Boeing 747 crash in a suburb in The Netherlands, the Bijlmerramp.
