Iberia A340 Hard Landing at Quito

[Doors to Automatic]

Iberia appear to have suffered another landing-related mishap at Quito with one of their A340-600s. Full story including a video of the landing here:

https://airwaysmag.com/airlines/iberia-a340-600-suffers-hard-landing-in-quito-video/?preview=true

[Jet Jockey A4]

Well at least he did not hesitate and initiated a Go Around.

[wideman]

Video of landing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YesjYscN5Ek

[Atlas Shrugged]

Almost number 2 for Iberia and the second 340 at Quito. Also, that’s RWY 18 so it must’ve REALLY been blowing!!

[rog747]

do i see also a pod scrape by #4 - or could be just dust thrown up by the jet wash?

[atakacs]

Don't really see a nose down attitude - they flare before touchdown. The rate of descent, on the other hand...


BTW: Seems to be a cellphone recording of the airport camera ?

[SeenItAll]

Just to note, the previous Iberia incident was at Mariscal Sucre airport, which was an accident waiting to happen in downtown Quito. This was at the new Mitad del Mundo airport -- which is about 1400 feet lower in altitude (at 7874 feet rather than 9228) and has over 3000 more feet of runway (at 13,451 feet rather than 10,236).

[TriStar_drvr]

Just to note, the previous Iberia incident was at Mariscal Sucre airport, which was an accident waiting to happen in downtown Quito. This was at the new Mitad del Mundo airport -- which is about 1400 feet lower in altitude (at 7874 feet rather than 9228) and has over 3000 more feet of runway (at 13,451 feet rather than 10,236).

That’s interesting. Had the chance to visit Quito in January. While walking about in a large park in the city center, my friend and I came upon a DC-4 on display. He wondered how it was brought there, and I surmised that it had flown in, as the park was very long and flat. I had no idea that it had served as the airport. Yes, I can imagine operating into there was a bit sporty. Thanks, you learn something new every day.

[nicolai]

Looks like a right pod strike around the 16 second mark on that video? I can't see if the tail hit too, maybe not quite - the smoke/dust from the exploding tyres makes it hard to see.

[Zlinguy]

That’s interesting. Had the chance to visit Quito in January. While walking about in a large park in the city center, my friend and I came upon a DC-4 on display. He wondered how it was brought there, and I surmised that it had flown in, as the park was very long and flat. I had no idea that it had served as the airport. Yes, I can imagine operating into there was a bit sporty. Thanks, you learn something new every day.



That's actually a DC-6 (mostly!) in Carolina Park - the old airport is actually a couple miles due north - I'm not sure how they got it there.

I taxiied past the Iberia 340 in the wee hours yesterday morning and it appeared to have all-new wheels/tires and, as far as I can tell, all 4 engine cowlings were attached and the undersides appeared to be undamaged. There was a fair amount of equipment parked around the center section, but no activity. Our contract mechanic told us that several Airbus personnel had flown in during the week to inspect the plane.

I fly into Quito almost weekly and can say that the low-level windshear the last 3 weeks is the worst I've seen since they opened the new airport ( and I typically do it in the middle-of-the night when it's calmed down significantly - light and variable winds throughout the whole 30-mile approach until 2,000' AGL and then a sudden 35kt tailwind until 1,400'AGL changing to a 5kt headwind at 1,000' AGL).

[aterpster]

Well at least he did not hesitate and initiated a Go Around.
Which can be fatal with structural damage.

Quito Runway 18 requires good power, airspeed management. Having said that, the "new" airport is far better than the old.

Also, no airline should be operating there without full RNP AR authorization.

[Mariner]

"Having said that, the "new" airport is far better than the old"

That may be your experience, but it certainly isn't mine.

While the old airport Mariscal Sucre certainly had it's challenges, the new Mitad del Mundo with it's unpredictable (or perhaps I should say predictable cause it's winds are nearly always shifty) windshear can be quite a handfull. I've flown into the new airport often, and seen one aircraft after the other going around due to windshear. Including the locals.
I must say I preferred the old airport.

(plus the ride into town was a lot quicker too :) )