Crash at Taipai

[Capt_Night_Freight]

From news.bbc.co.uk

Reports are coming in of a plane crash in the Taiwanese capital, Taipei.
A Taiwanese official said that a Singapore Airlines plane bound for Los Angles had crashed at the international airport.
It was not known how many people were aboard.

"The plane burst into flames and exploded shortly after takeoff. It hit a China Airlines 2601TW plane on the tarmac," the official told reporters.

The plane had taken off in a storm and was hit by strong winds.



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When the weight of the paper equals the weight of the airplane, only then you can go flying.

[Kimberley]

Hello Captain,
Well, it's another sad day in aviation...

The latest from AP:
Transportation Ministry rescue center official said there were four dead and 62 injured. Ninety-three were still unaccounted for, the official told Reuters.

And another good source of general coverage: http://www.cnn.com/

For those of you who are obliged to fly in these storms - please be careful.

[Capt_Night_Freight]

mriya225 long time no speak... http://www.crewstart.com/ubb/images/icons/wink.gif

below are the TAFS and Actuals

TAF:-
RCTP 311512 04020G32KT 2500 RA SCT003 BKN006 OVC030 TEMPO 1512 03030G45KT 0600 SHRA SCT001 BKN002 OVC015=

METAR:-
RCTP 2000/10/31 17:00 UTC
RCTP 03042G58KT 0400 R05/0600D R06/0600D +RA SCT001 BKN003 OVC006 20/20 Q1000 WS
RWY05 NOSIG

no worse than we have been having in Europe over the past few weeks.

I belive that the pilots survived but there are still some paxs missing


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When the weight of the paper equals the weight of the airplane, only then you can go flying.

[Skyjob]

It's a tragedy, but as rightlt said by Capt Night Freight, the weather has been worse in Europe in recent days. (Just arrived yesterday from ATH in LTN and had a wind-check of 240/45M60 on finals 26 LTN!)

Sad for SIA, lucky the pilots got away unhurt. Seems the a/c struck an object. Expected casualties are reaching 100 in total according to BBC.

Safe flying boys & girls, don't let it happen to you!

Greetz

[Capt_Night_Freight]

For the record here are the facts so far

................
Date: 31.10.2000
Time: 23.18
Type: Boeing 747-412
Operator: Singapore Airlines
Registration: 9V-SPK
C/n: 28023/1099
Year built: 1997
Crew: ? fatalities / 20 on board
Passengers: ? fatalities / 159 on board
Total: maybe 47 fatalities / 179 on board
Location: Taipei-Chang Kai Shek IAP (Taiwan)
Phase: Take-off
Nature: Scheduled Passenger
Flight: Taipei-Chang Kai Shek IAP - Los Angeles IAP, CA
(Flightnumber 006)
Remarks:
Singapore Airlines Flight 006 departed Singapore for a flight to Los
Angeles via Taipei. Scheduled departure time at Taipei was 22.55h. At
23.18h Flight 006 started its takeoff roll in poor weather conditions,
caused by a typhoon in the area. On takeoff something went wrong, causing
the plane to crash back onto the runway, breaking up while sliding down
the runway. Casualty reports are conflicting, currently 47 people reported
dead and some 48 missing.
Weather reported at 00.00h local time included temperature 69F/21 C;
pressure 29.59in./1002 hPa; wind N 37mph; heavy rain.

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When the weight of the paper equals the weight of the airplane, only then you can go flying.

[Kimberley]

http://smilecwm.tripod.com/net6/smsmile2.gif Thanks for the updates Night Freight,
And yes, it has been a long time http://smilecwm.tripod.com/net3/unhappy.gif .
I hope you are well, please be careful flying in your rough weather! http://smilecwm.tripod.com/net2/sad.gif

[Capt_Night_Freight]

Singapore Airlines revised statement about SQ006 accident

Of the 159 passengers and 20 crew on board SQ 006, some fatalities have now been reported. The specific numbers of casualties and fatalities have yet to be confirmed. However, we understand there are 75 passengers unaccounted for, 68 passengers injured and 16 passengers confirmed as uninjured.

Of the crew, the three technical crew are uninjured. Eight cabin crew are unaccounted for, one is injured and eight are unhurt.

The injured have been transferred to hospitals in Taipei. Rescue operations are still underway.

On board, there were 5 First Class passengers, 28 Raffles Class, and 126 Economy Class passengers.

The three technical crew comprised the flight commander, Captain C. K. Foong, who is a Malaysian, and two Singaporean First Officers. Of the 17 cabin crew, 15 are Singaporeans and two are Taiwanese.

This is the first serious accident involving an SIA aircraft. The B747-400 aircraft was manufactured in January 1997, and underwent its last maintenance check on 16 September 2000. The aircraft, registration 9VSPK, carried no defects.

Flight SQ 006 crashed on the runway during the take-off run yesterday (31 October) at 2318 hours local time at Taipei’s Chiang Kai Shek Airport.


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When the weight of the paper equals the weight of the airplane, only then you can go flying.

[Capt_Night_Freight]

It would appear from reports coming inthat the aircraft could well have lined up on the wrong runway. AS most of the debris found was on 05R which is notamed as reduced length due to WIP the runway in use at the time would of been 05L. This would appear to make sense and explain why the aircraft hit something on the runway.I have not been into Taipai so am unfamiliar with the layout perhaps somebody could post either Aerad or Jepps plates or a link to where these could be viewed . Dose anybody know the Xwind limits for the 400 on a wet runway.

I am pleased to see that Singapore Airlines have sid that they will provide all families of victims with $25,000 immediate compensation.

I would just like to add my condolences to all those involved.And offer my sympathies to those that lost loved ones.May they RIP.



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When the weight of the paper equals the weight of the airplane, only then you can go flying.

[Kimberley]

Looks like that could be the case,

"...the ill-fated plane bound for Los Angeles may have taken off from the 05R runway rather than parallel 05L runway. The airport has two parallel runways and a third one used only occasionally as a back-up.
The 05R runway has been closed for maintenance and repair. TVBS footage showed a heavy hydraulic mechanical shovel and some concrete blocks on it. The two-metre (six-foot) high mechanical shovel had clearly been hit by something in the front."

Excerpt source: http://www.airdisaster.com/news/1100/01/news2.html

Photo of the shovel: http://www.chinatimes.com.tw/photo/0129.htm

[Capt_Night_Freight]

News Credit: The Associated Press

Singapore plane used wrong runway


The wreckage of Singapore Airline SQ-006 Boeing 747 is
attended to by emergency services after crashing at
Taiwan's Taoyuan International Airport late October 31,
2000. The 159 passengers and 20 crew bound for Los
Angeles crashed seconds after takeoff in Taipei during a
typhoon on Tuesday. There were conflicting reports of
fatalities. (Reuters)
The Singapore Airlines jumbo jet that crashed in Taipei during a heavy rainstorm tried to take off on the wrong runway and slammed into construction equipment being used to repair the strip, an official said Friday.

The comment by prosecutor Soong Kuo-yeh came as officials from Taiwan, Singapore and the United States combed through the wreckage of the Boeing 747-400 at the start of their investigation, and as dozens of American citizens arrived in Taipei to claim the bodies of the victims.

The jetliner crashed late Tuesday night as a typhoon bore down on the capital, with high winds, heavy rains and low visibility, killing 81 of the 179 people aboard Flight SQ006 from Taipei to Los Angeles.

``From the crash scene, it's very easy to see that the plane had mistakenly used the wrong runway where there were scraps of steel and two construction cranes,'' said Soong, a prosecutor at the Taoyuan County district office where the airport is located.

He said the plane crashed after hitting the two cranes being used to repair the closed runway during the day.

Soong's statement was the most specific account of what happened during the crash. The official probe has not announced any conclusions.

The official probe has already concluded that the bulk of the wreckage ended up on the closed runway that ran parallel to the one the plane was supposed to use. The pilot and some survivors also have said they felt the jet hit something just before the crash broke it liner into three pieces and set most of them on fire.

Another theory being discussed is that the plane began on the correct runway, then swerved to avoid something blowing in front of it and crashed onto the closed runway.

Angry relatives accused officials Thursday of concealing information about the deadly crash of a Singapore Airlines jetliner.

On Friday, as dozens of Americans arrived in Taipei aboard a Singapore Airlines flight from Los Angeles, many appearing tired and very sad, most declined to comment to reporters.

But one, Khan Mahmood of Atlanta, who lost his sister and his parents in the crash, criticized Singapore Airlines.

``Initially, we were disappointed. The first day it was a frustrating experience,'' Mahmood said. He didn't elaborate, but appeared to join others who have complained that Singapore Airlines took too long to notify relatives about what had happened to the plane and the crash victims.

``All I can say is I lost my parents as well as my sister,'' Mahmood said, before being led to a bus that took the Americans to a hotel, then to a memorial hall where the bodies must be identified.

Another upset woman urged reporters to leave the mourners alone, saying: ``I just want my brother back.''

Meanwhile, investigators continued to comb through the wreckage of the shattered jet, focusing on pieces ranging from a shredded tire to an engine planted deep in the ground.

Singapore Airlines, with no previous crashes in 28 years of operation, is regarded as one of the world's best airlines.

But Tuesday's accident was the latest in Asia to raise questions about whether pilots are given too much leeway in attempting takeoffs and landings in bad weather.

Some survivors have questioned why the Singapore Airlines jet even tried to take off during heavy wind and rains and poor visibility caused by the typhoon.

Winds were blowing between 27 to 31 mph, and the plane was traveling 145 mph - too fast to abort a takeoff, said Kay Yong, managing director of Taiwan's Aviation Safety Council.

No wreckage has been found on the runway where the jet was supposed to use. An earlier theory speculated that the plane had skidded onto the parallel runway, but no skid marks were found on the grass between them.

Singapore Airlines follows Boeing's guideline of allowing takeoffs only if crosswinds are lower than 34.5 mph (55.5 kph), airline spokesman Rick Clements said Thursday. Crosswinds were blowing at no more than 17 mph when the flight tried to take off Tuesday, he said.

But the Taiwanese carrier EVA Air said it scrapped three flights late Tuesday - shortly before the crash - because of crosswinds of more than 55 mph.

Even when winds are higher than the level aircraft manufacturers call safe, some airports leave the decision on whether to fly up to the pilot.

The decision to take off or land an aircraft is always up to the pilot, said Billy K.C. Chang, deputy director general of Taiwan's Aeronautics Administration.

Control tower operators can only provide the most precise weather data available. Chang acknowledged that the weather information generated by the government's computers is not distributed in real time. He refused to say how dated it was.

Airport officials order runways closed only if pilots insist on flying under weather conditions that present ``immediate danger to the aircraft,'' he said.

``It's always the pilot's call,'' Chang said.

But critics fear pilots might make the wrong call under pressure to keep flights operating on schedule.

Singapore Airlines has defended the actions of pilot Capt. C.K. Foong, who survived the crash.


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When the weight of the paper equals the weight of the airplane, only then you can go flying.

[exeng]

Well I have to say 'it could have been me', I'm just being honest.

Given all the wrong circumstances, which is the likely scenario, how do you think you would have coped?

My condolences to all of the bereaved.

To the Flight Crew: I'm dreadfully sorry that this tragedy has occurred and my thoughts are with you also.

[Capt_Night_Freight]

I have to agree Exeng ....... there but for the grace of god etc etc

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When the weight of the paper equals the weight of the airplane, only then you can go flying.

[Kimberley]

Agreed gentlemen,
It's so tragic, but it does happen. Most people can be fallable without setting off catastauphic consequences... I just ache for that flightcrew.

[Kimberley]

I'm appalled to report that this tragedy can, and has, gotten worse:

Singapore Airlines pilots face manslaughter charges
(Updated at 1130 PST)
TAIPEI: Three pilots will be charged with manslaughter for the Singapore Airlines crash which killed 81 people as evidence indicated pilot error put the doomed plane on the wrong runway, a report said on Saturday.

[Captain_Anonymous]

Transcript from black box recording of SQ006
(The recording begins from 18 seconds after 11.15 pm 1515GMT)
11.15.18 ATC (tower) Singapore 6 runway 05 left (5L). Wind 020 (degrees) at 28 (knots). Gust to 50. Clear for take off.

11.15.26 Captain Clear for take off. Runway 05 left. Singapore 6.
11.16.19 Captain We can see the runway not so bad. OK., I am going to put it to high first.
11.16.51 First Officer 80 knots.
11.16.52 Captain OK, my control.
11.17.08 First Officer V1.*
11.17.12 Captain (Expletive). Something there.
11.17.13 Banging sound
11.17.14 Captain *Unintelligible words. Followed by a series of crashing sounds.*
11.17.18 Recording stopped.
* (Speed of 142 knots/hour, at which take-off can no longer be aborted)


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[1234]

As a special tribute to the passengers and crew, there is an on-line memorial. note that this is for family and friends only

ClickHere (http://cnasec.channelnewsasia.com/sq006/tribute.htm)

If you like to express your condoleances yourself:

ClickHere (http://cnasec.channelnewsasia.com/sq006/condolences.htm)


[This message has been edited by 1234 (edited November 06, 2000).]

[Kimberley]

http://www.crewstart.com/ubb/images/icons/shocked.gifThe latest news...


New Jeppesen chart may have misled SIA 006 crew

A new Jeppesen chart for Chiang Kai Shek airport has emerged as potentially a major factor in confusing the pilot of the Singapore Airlines 747-400 that crashed in Taipei on Oct. 31, killing 81.
The chart was effective from Nov. 1 and showed only two runways, 05--formerly 05L--and 06, on either side of the airport. Runway 05R from which the pilot attempted his takeoff was being decommissioned and converted to a taxiway, but that work was not yet complete. Runway 05R is adjacent to 05L and closer to the terminal. Tragically, new centerline green taxiway lights apparently were not working on the 05R runway/taxiway and the sideline white lights, which were still operational, were being used. The construction work on the decommissioning was being conducted halfway along the runway, and in driving rain at night it was invisible to the crew of SQ 006.
Nevertheless, Singapore Airlines has accepted full responsibility for the accident and Deputy Chairman and CEO Cheong Choong Kong issued a statement to that effect Nov. 3. Late last week SIA offered compensation of $400,000 to families of those killed in the crash.
The 747 hit concrete barriers and two cranes and split into three parts. Most of the survivors were from the rear of the aircraft and the upper deck. Taiwanese airport authorities had warned pilots of the construction work, but it appears no warning had been received regarding the use of sideline white lighting on 05R because the centerline green was inoperative. Ironically, the captain would not have accepted 05R for his takeoff because at 9,000 ft. it was too short for the Los Angeles-bound jet.
http://www.atwonline.com/news.shtml

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Un diva très doué.