Causes

Flight path management in airline accidents

Official investigators identified flight path management in 4 of the incidents we cover, from 1993 to 2015. Each account explains how it arose in that case. A shared topic does not mean the same cause.

Last updated

Flight path management incident summary
DateFlightAircraftLocationFatalitiesReport status
29 March 2015Air Canada Flight 624Airbus A320-211Halifax Stanfield, approach to Runway 05No fatalitiesLEVEL 3 Final report
1 June 2009Air France Flight 447Airbus A330-203Atlantic Ocean, international waters near TASIL228 fatalities; no survivorsLEVEL 3 Final report
17 January 2008British Airways Flight 38Boeing 777-236ERLondon Heathrow, short of Runway 27LNo fatalitiesLEVEL 3 Final report
14 September 1993Lufthansa Flight 2904Airbus A320-211Warsaw Okecie, Runway 11Two fatalitiesLEVEL 3 Final report
Air Canada A320 C-FTJP on an airport apron at night, illuminated by ground lights.The incident aircraft: airforcefe from Richmond

Air Canada Flight 624

A constant descent angle did not keep the aircraft on the intended approach path.

Incident date:

LEVEL 3 Final report

Air France A330 F-GZCP airborne with its landing gear extended, photographed before the accident.The incident aircraft: Wim Callaert

Air France Flight 447

An airspeed inconsistency became a loss of control that the crew never recovered from.

Incident date:

LEVEL 3 Final report

British Airways 777 on grass at Heathrow after Flight 38, with an evacuation slide deployed and debris nearby.Aftermath photograph: Marc-Antony Payne

British Airways Flight 38

Ice in the fuel system restricted thrust from both engines during the final approach to Heathrow.

Incident date:

LEVEL 3 Final report

Lufthansa A320 D-AIPN parked on the apron at Heathrow in 1991.The incident aircraft: Dick Gilbert

Lufthansa Flight 2904

A late touchdown and delayed deceleration left too little runway to stop.

Incident date:

LEVEL 3 Final report