# NTSB FTW92IA010: Boeing 747-300, Houston, TX, October 17, 1991

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: October 17, 1991, 14:06 local (19:06 UTC)
- Place: Houston, TX
- Location: 29.9844° N, 95.3414° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at GEORGE BUSH INTCNTL/HOUSTON (IAH), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.9844&lon=-95.3414&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 154 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 5, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 18385
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW92IA010
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18385/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW92IA010

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN PROPER RUNWAY ALIGNMENT PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN AND HIS FAILURE TO INITIATE A GO AROUND TO REMEDY THE SITUATION. A FACTOR WAS THE LOW ALTITUDE AT WHICH HE INITIATED THE SIDE STEP MANEUVER FOR WHICH HE WAS CLEARED.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Abrupt maneuver, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - maneuver - delayed, pilot in command
  - altitude - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - proper alignment - not attained, pilot in command (cause)
  - go-around - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
- Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - runway
  - engine assembly - open
- Fire, landing - roll
  - fuel system,drain - cracked

## Analysis

THE PILOT ALLOWED THE RIGHT OUTBOARD ENGINE POD TO DRAG ON THE RUNWAY WHILE LANDING. THE INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT EXECUTED A ILS APPROACH TO RUNWAY 14 AND WHEN THEY WERE HANDED OVER TO THE TOWER, THEY REQUESTED A VISUAL APPROACH TO RUNWAY 8. THE TOWER CLEARED THE FLIGHT FOR THE SIDE STEP MANEUVER. THE CAPTAIN DELAYED INITIATING THE SIDE STEP MANEUVER UNTIL HE WAS 350 FEET AGL, AND BANKED THE AIRPLANE TO THE LEFT, ATTAINING A BANK OF 32.6 DEGREES, FOLLOWED BY 20.8 DEGREES BANK TO THE RIGHT AT 18 FEET AGL. FINAL APPROACH ALIGNMENT WAS NOT OBTAINED CAUSING THE ENGINE TO DRAG ON THE RUNWAY. A FIRE ERUPTED IN THE BOTTOM AFT SECTION OF THE ENGINE COWLING AS A RESULT OF A BROKEN FUEL FILTER DRAIN LINE. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED WITH ONBOARD FIRE SUPPRESSANTS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: PHBUU (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 747-300
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: GE CF6-50 52500 horsepower turbo fan
- Damage: Minor damage
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 129
- Operator: Klm Royal Dutch Airline
- Registered owner: Klm Royal Dutch Airline
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Departed: MEX, MEXICO CITY
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: IAH, Houston, runway 9, 9,401 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; foreign, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 11,969 total, 2,494 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 170° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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