TU-154 Crash in Mashhad Iran
 

From the AP wire:

A little bit more info here...46 injured as Iran plane catches fire: Report - Middle East - World - The Times of India

An Iranian friend of mine tells me that the preferred method of travel is bus.

No wonder, this type of thing seems to happen with monotonous regularity.

METAR of the accident time:
METAR OIMM 240300Z 00000KT 0200 FG VV001 02/02 Q1021 A3016

MHD METAR at 0430Z and 0800IRST
OIMM 240430Z 00000KT 0100 FG VV/// 02/02 Q1021 A3017

The ILS facility at OIMM is CAT I and pilot made landing by his discretion due to medical emergency

Latest NOTAM shows the RWY 13L/31R has been closed till 1430 local time
- RWY 13L/31R CLSD DUE TO DISABLE ACFT. 24 JAN 03:47 2010 UNTIL 24 JAN 11:00 2010.

Some new pictures:
http://thumbnails27.imagebam.com/651...f465117197.gif http://thumbnails19.imagebam.com/651...2f65117200.gif http://thumbnails17.imagebam.com/651...5765117203.gif
http://thumbnails27.imagebam.com/651...6e65117205.gif http://thumbnails28.imagebam.com/651...bf65117207.gif http://thumbnails19.imagebam.com/651...2765117209.gif

Rmac, as I work in Iran myself(Ahwaz) I would certainly not travel by bus I have only ever been in 2 car crashes in my life both here and within 2 miles of my office at the airport, however saying that I do travel from Ahwaz-Tehran only on Iranair and then either EK to DXB or BMI to LHR.

Iranian Civil Aviation Organization suspends Taban Air AOC till end of investigations, rumors here!!!

Early investigation shows pilot error...
MHD ILS CATI minimum visibility is 800m but according to METAR visibility at that time is only 200m
Aircraft touched at the vicinity of the RWY but landing gears collapsed due to unpaved surface.

My info is that crew insited on landing despite below minima because of a sick pax on board . So this one has not much to do with lack of spares.(The first part of the above statement is however correct )In any case, plenty of Tu154 spare parts in Russia, as this A/c was Russian registered.

If you knew how iranians drive and the yearly death doll on the roads in Iran you would prefer Air travel when you can.

ATC Watcher, in reference to bus travel, Iranian driving and the death toll on the roads which I am led to believe is the highest per capita in the world(and seeing it everyday I would not argue) air travel is far preferable, my nerves are bad enough in the 5 min drive from hotel-office-hotel everyday I could not imagine what it would be like on a bus from Tehran-Ahwaz-Tehran(15 hours each way) I will take my chances with Iranair.

Well, looking at the pictures, that's got be the understatement of the year thus far. :ok:

Has anyone seen the tail anywhere? I wonder if this is what happened.......

Yeah, looks like a little mishap at touch down.

Now from the horse's mouth: There is no problem getting parts for either russian or european aircraft in Iran there IS as problem getting parts for US built aircraft but as there is relatively few US aircraft flying here that is not a problem.
The text did not say a lack of spares caused the accident only that it was difficult to get spare parts for US aircraft which is true, what is not true is it being difficult to get either spares or whole aircraft from europe, I am not speculating on this as I deal with it every day.

Your not being insensitive at all. I completely agree with your statement but for one thing. Iran is willing to buy airbus or boeing aircraft and are seeking them when they can, but the only problem is America is stopping that from happening. A while back they tried to buy brand new A330's to replace the 741/2's and that fell through. Iran air is still owed a few A300/310's from the deposits they put down when buying the aircraft before and after the revolution.

The only problem is America. What America doesn't realise is that these are commercial aircrafts used by private airlines in Iran by fare paying citizens. Although I also trust Iranian engineers completely, anything can happen with poorly equipt and such old aircraft. What America doesn't understand is that anything can happen with any flight which is in international and ally countries which risks lives on the ground as well as in the aircraft.

All we ask for is for America to allow Iran to purchase new aircraft just to replace the old ones and allow continous support for these aircraft.

Why do they write "A RUSSIAN-made plane" always but "A US-made plane" or "FRENCH-made plane" never!?

I suppose that sinkrate just before touchdown will be the most interesting part of the report. Both wings are ripped of near their roots, nosegear and tail assembly are nowhere to be seen yet the fuselage didn't break and remained upright throughout the crash. I'm impressed. At least Tu-154 designers, товарищи Е́гер, Марков & Co did something pretty darn well.

Sometimes I wonder if this is really a pilots forum or rather one for frustrated nationalists?
If you look at that metar and consider that the airport is allegedly CAT I, it's rather pointless to bash about who's got the worse governement and where you get the spare parts.
To land anything in 100 fog without autoland is just asking for it, and a passenger must be mighty sick to justify such a feat. Might make many more pax sick or worse.

Iranair 777 : If you change " America" by the US administration and the UN security council " you'll be more correct. Some of the trade sanctions are from the UN no ?.
I was told the issue is the possible dual use of those aircraft . I understand your Air force and your Revolutianry Guards Air branchh has a lot of 707s and 747s they would also like to change.
So the main problem regarding Iran is political and has more to do with the "N" word in my opinion wont'you agree ?.

Aviaservice :Good point, but for your info there is no longer any French-built large aircraft unfortunately. Dassault is the last one and it is business jets. The Airbus familly is European, France has only 40% of it.

Finally there are a lot of western types flying in Iran , Iran air (*)and Mahan air fly exclusively western types incl A300-600 , A320s and 747-400.

Cleartocross : absolutely spot on ! This accident has indeed nothing to do with Tupolevs, trade sanctions or spare parts, just someone deciding to have a go below minima.
Sometimes it works, sometimes it does not and it ends badly.

Avman " Hi long time no see , you're OK ?

Actually the nosegear crashed through the floor.

It may have done so but would you Care to verify that.

JSP