China Southern Airlines Flight 3456
A China Southern airlines Boeing 737-300 similar to the accident aircraft
|
|
| Accident summary | |
|---|---|
| Date | May 8, 1997 |
| Summary | Foul weather and pilot error, crash on approach |
| Site | Shenzhen, Guangdong, China |
| Passengers | 65 |
| Crew | 9 |
| Injuries (non-fatal) | 9 |
| Fatalities | 35 |
| Survivors | 39 |
| Aircraft type | Boeing 737-31B |
| Operator | China Southern Airlines |
| Registration | B-2925 |
| Flight origin | Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport |
| Destination | Shenzhen Huangtian Airport |
China Southern Airlines Flight 3456 (IATA:CZ3456) is a scheduled domestic passenger flight from Chongqing to Shenzhen Huangtian Airport (now Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport), Guangdong, China. On May 8, 1997, the Boeing 737 performing this route crashed during the second attempt to land in a thunderstorm. The flight number 3456 is still used by China Southern for the Chongqing-Shenzhen route but the aircraft type has changed to Airbus A320 family.[1]
Aircraft
- Model: Boeing 737-31B
- Registration: B-2925
- Serial Number: 27288
- Engine: 2 x CFM International CFM56-3B1 turbofan engines
- Year of Delivery: 1994[2]
Accident
On May 8, 1997, Flight 3456 took off from Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport at 19:45 local time (UTC+8), expected to arrive Shenzhen Huangtian Airport at 20:30. At 20:07, the Shenzhen Airport approach controller cleared the flight to the approach of Runway 33. At 20:17, the Tower informed the crew "heavy rain on final, advice when spotting the runway". At 20:18:07, the crew stated they have established ILS approach. At 21:18:53, the crew advised ATC that they spotted the approach lightings, and the controller cleared the aircraft to land. The controller was able to see the landing light of the plane, but it was not clear due to the rain. At 21:19:33, the aircraft touched down on the south of the runway, bounced three times, damaged the aircraft's nose gear, hydraulic systems and flaps. The crew decided to go around. The aircraft made a left turn while climbing up to 1,200 metres (3,900 ft). The crew were asked to turn on the transponder to show the ATC their position, but the secondary surveillance radar did not receive any signal from the aircraft, indicated the transponder was off. At 21:23:57, the crew informed the ATC they are on the downwind side, and requested other aircraft to clear off the airspace for Flight 3456's landing. At 21:23:40, the crew declared an emergency and requested to clear the approach again. At the time, the main warning, hydraulic system warning and the gear warning were all triggered in the cockpit. At 21:24:58, the crew asked for a full emergency airfield support. The aircraft then turned around, reported will land towards the south, which was approved. At 21:28:30, the aircraft skidded off the runway, broke into three pieces and caught on fire, killing 33 passengers and 2 crew members.[3]
Cockpit voice recording
In June 2007, an audio recording reputed to be the cockpit voice recorder records from the accident was posted on the internet. A 12-minute clip audio was uploaded to YouTube. According to an expert from the Civil Aviation Administration of China, the recording is unlikely to be fake.[4]
<templatestyles src="Template:Hidden begin/styles.css"/>
Approach: Descend and maintain 1500 meters, China Southern 3456.
Co-pilot: Clear to descend and maintain 1500 meters.
Approach: There is a plane close to you ahead.
Approach: It is raining heavily for your airfield traffic pattern. Can you see the runway?
Approach: Oh,You can't see in the cloud, right, China Southern 3456?
Co-pilot: Affirmative.
[Auto pilot disengaged]
Co-pilot: 308.
Co-pilot: Contact Guangzhou Control 160.35
Co-pilot: Request to descend, China Southern 3456.
Co-pilot: Heading 135.
Co-pilot: I can see the bad weather on the runway.
Approach: China Southern 3456, descend and maintain 900 meter.
Captain: China Southern 3456 is establishing the ILS approach.
Co-pilot:China Southern 3456 is contacting Huangtian tower. 6855, bye.
Captain: Watch the altitude.
Captain: Watch the rain.
Tower: China Southern 3456.
Captain: Er...we are setting the ILS approach now, China Southern 3456.
Co-pilot: About 330 degrees.
Co-pilot: Decision speed 60m. Go around if fails (to land).
Captain: Okay.
Captain: I can't see (the runway).
Co-pilot: Alright. Throttles ready.
Captain: Throttles ready.
Co-pilot: 100, 138.
Captain: Approach lightings are in the front.
Captain: Don't look outside! The rain is heavy.
Co-pilot: Right.
Captain: China Southern 3456, we can see the approach light now.
Co-pilot:: Decision altitude. We are landing. Spotted the runway lights.
Captain: Keep the slope path.
Co-pilot: Mine (Glide Slope) indicates it is too low.
[[[Ground Proximity Warning System]] warning: Glide Slope!]
Co-pilot: Watch speed! Watch the speed!
Captain: It's alright to be a little bit higher.
Co-pilot: Turn left a little bit...
Captain: No, don't turn down the throttles...
[First bounce]
[Ground Proximity Warning System warning: TERRAIN! PULL UP!]
Captain: Go around! Throttle! Throttle up!
[Second bounce]
Captain: Throttle up! Go around!
[Third bounce]
Captain: Throttle up! Go around!
Co-pilot: Can't...
[Structural damage alarm from Electronic Flight Instrument System]
Captain: Flaps 15.
Co-pilot: 15.
Co-pilot: I can't feel any weight from the yoke!
Captain: What?
Engineer: The yoke lost control?
Co-pilot: It's climbing.
Captain: Gear up!
Captain: It fails.
Co-pilot: Failed to gear up?
Engineer: The speed is also down.
Co-pilot: *cough*
Captain: Don't, don't climb to fast. Take it down a little bit.
Co-pilot: All for nothing huh?
Engineer: Gears failed right?
Captain: Failed. Don't worry, don't worry, don't worry!
Engineer: The rain is too intense, can't see the ground.
Captain: Climb! Climb! Climb! Climb a little bit! A little bit!
Co-pilot: The warnings are all on.
Captain: It (the yoke) is so light. Clear the warnings.
Captain: Climb to 1200 first.
Co-pilot: Okay.
Co-pilot: The yoke is so light.
Engineer: The yoke lost control!
Captain: Don't climb so fast!
Captain: 3456 go around.
Approach: 3456 Huangtian.
Captain: 3456 go around.
Approach: You are 3456 right?
Captain: Louder!
Approach: Are you 3456?
Captain: This is 3456.
Co-pilot: We can turn around to land.
[Hydraulic system damage alarm from Electronic Flight Instrument System]
Approach: Can you turn on the transponder? I can't see you.
Co-pilot: How about turning around to land towards the opposite direction?
Captain: Negative. It is raining heavily. Climb to 1200 metres first.
Captain: Check my position, China Southern 3456.
Approach: You haven't turn on the transponder yet. please check it.
Captain I am checking.
Approach: You got any problems from your electricity?
Co-pilot: I pull (the yoke) to the bottom but it (the aircraft) just doesn't go up!
Captain: What?!
Captain: The electricity is fine.
Co-pilot: Left, turn left.
Captain: The weather is bad on the left!
Co-pilot: There is no problem!
Approach: China Southern 3456, please report your position.
Captain: I just went past Shatian Road. Check my position using your radar.
Approach: I don't have you on my radar!
Co-pilot: We are now turning to the left into downwind.
Approach: Is it the position right now? I have planes on my final.
Co-pilot: So hard to maintain the position, I can't let the plane go up!
Approach: What is your altitude right now?
Captain: Maintaining 1200.
Approach: Maintaining 1200?
Captain: Affirm.
Tower: 3456, Shenzhen Ground.
Captain: Yes, 3456?
Tower: Give me your position.
Captain: I am turning to downwind. Asked other planes to avoid me.
Captain: I can't do that. I have a plane 14 kilometers away from the airport at the altitude of 600m.
Co-pilot: Tell them we have an emergency! Tell them we have an emergency! We have an emergency!
Captain: We declare emergency! Clear them off!
Co-pilot: Huh, the brake still works.
Engineer: To 111.3.
Co-pilot: Which 111.3?
Engineer: ILS.
Tower: 3456, there are thunders from the south, pay attention to it.
Captain: Roger.
[Wind shear warning]
Captain: Don't descend, don't descend anymore.
Captain: Let other planes get away from me! i have an emergency, my plane is warning! Clear off other planes!
Tower: I have already clear off the airspace for you. Are you on the downwind side?
Captain: Affirm.
Tower: What is the DME?
Captain: DME now... DME is 6 nm.
Co-pilot: 111.3 right?
Engineer: Yes.
Co-pilot: If we turn around, the weather will be better and we can get down.
Captain: Isn't it raining heavily right now? Oh there is the runway.
Co-pilot: Do we need to choose another brake?
Engineer: Do we need one more circle (of hovering)?
Captain: 3456, clear off other planes. I have an emergency.
Tower: I already cleared them.
Co-pilot: I think I lost control.
Co-pilot: Requesting firefighters and ambulances for landing.
Tower: Affirm, I notified them already. I also cleared all the planes. You just land.
Captain: Alright. I will turn around again to land. Toward... toward the south.
Tower: Land toward the south?!
Captain: Give me my position?
Tower: 3456 what is your position? I don't see you! Where are you?
Captain: My altitude is 1200m, I am...
Co-pilot: Watch the posture of the plane.
Captain: Wait, I am turning left.
Captain: Stop descending! Don't descend!
Tower: Prepare to land toward the south. It's calm on the ground.
Captain: What is the wind?
Tower: The wind is calm.
Captain: Ahh, roger.
[The CVR got 2 seconds of damaged recording]
Captain: I beg the gears are not in good condition. Pay more attention.
Co-pilot: Okay.
[Flaps up]
Captain: You are now... Don't turn on this one!
Tower: There is no plane left. Both runways are clear.
Co-pilot: I don't know my position.
Captain: Use the navigation tower.
Co-pilot: Is that the runway?
Engineer: I see the runway.
Captain: You will watch the runway.
Co-pilot: I can see the runway!
Engineer: Saw it.
Co-pilot: We are landing.
Captain: Right.
Tower: 3456. Clear to land runway 15.
Captain: Roger, I spotted the runway, prepare to touch down.
Tower: And the landed plane reported the weather in the north is better than the south. It's raining heavily on final.
Captain: Roger, I am going to land.
Tower: What is your position now?
Captain: I am turning to final.
Purser: How is it going?
Captain: It seems not good. Prepare for the evacuation.
Purser: Alright, anything else?
Captain: No. Only one minute to landing.
Co-pilot: Watch the speed and the altitude.
Co-pilot: Pay more attention... Watch out...
Captain: Is it too high?
Co-pilot: It's the end of the runway!
Co-pilot: It's too high, lower the throttles.
[Ground Proximity Warning System warning: SINK RATE!]
Co-pilot: Pull it!
Captain: Pull it pull it!
[Ground Proximity Warning System warning: PULL UP!]
Co-pilot: Sink rate is too high!!
Captain: Pull it pull it pull it!! Pull it! Pull it!
Co-pilot: Sink rate is too high!!!!!
[Sound of impact]
[End of the recording]See also
References
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- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ http://web.archive.org/web/20130524145940/http://www.airdisaster.com/cgi-bin/view_details.cgi?date=05081997®=B-2925&airline=China+Southern+Airlines Accident database from airdisaster.com
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ CACC:It doesn't seem false. Archived March 11, 2008 at the Wayback Machine
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- Airliner accidents and incidents caused by weather
- Airliner accidents and incidents caused by pilot error
- Aviation accidents and incidents in 1997
- Aviation accidents and incidents in China
- 1997 disasters in China
- History of Guangdong
- Accidents and incidents involving the Boeing 737
- China Southern Airlines accidents and incidents
- 1997 meteorology
