Originally Posted by
DonMashiro
Hello everyone !
I am currently writing my master's thesis about construction and design of runways. In my thesis, I wanted to add a chapter about plane crashes and accidents caused by the poor condition of runway surfaces or their damage, or where the condition of the runway had an impact on the accident, but unfortunately I cannot find information about such incidents. That's why I'm asking here if you have heard or know about such cases. Thanks in advance for your answers.
I don't know if you will find something more precise but what's for certain is that flights had to be cancelled due to poor runway condition.
When you apply full power for takeoff, the engine blast can tear the runway surface and lift out big chunks of concrete, which can then fly into the horizontal stabilizer.
On a big aircraft (I'm thinking about an incident where it happened on a long haul aircraft) this will go unnoticed by the crew. Even if the cabin crew from the rear hear something abnormal they can't call the cockpit at that time.
The airplane can takeoff with a damaged horizontal stabilizer which is in itself a serious incident.
I don't however know of any similar case which would have escalated into an accident.
Very similar to what alfaman posted.
You could also wonder what would happen if the runway wasn't able to sustain the impact of an aircraft.