CCIAIIAACIAC COMISIÓN DE INVESTIGACIÓN DE ACCIDENTES E INCIDENTES DE AVIACIÓN CIVIL Report IN-036/2013 Incident involving a Boeing 737-800 aircraft, registration G-FDZG, operated by Thomson Airways, while on approach to the Fuerteventura airport (Spain) on 22 August 2013 Report IN-036/2013 Incident involving a Boeing 737-800 aircraft, registration G-FDZG, operated by Thomson Airways, while on approach to the Fuerteventura airport (Spain) on 22 August 2013 SUBSECRETARÍA GOBIERNO MINISTERIO DE ESPAÑA DE FOMENTO COMISIÓN DE INVESTIGACIÓN DE ACCIDENTES E INCIDENTES DE AVIACIÓN CIVIL Edita: Centro de Publicaciones Secretaría General Técnica Ministerio de Fomento © NIPO: 161-16-223-4 Diseño, maquetación e impresión: Centro de Publicaciones COMISIÓN DE INVESTIGACIÓN DE ACCIDENTES E INCIDENTES DE AVIACIÓN CIVIL Tel.: +34 91 597 89 63 E-mail: [email protected] C/ Fruela, 6 Fax: +34 91 463 55 35 http://www.ciaiac.es 28011 Madrid (España) Foreword This report is a technical document that reflects the point of view of the Civil Aviation Accident and Incident Investigation Commission (CIAIAC) regarding the circumstances of the accident object of the investigation, and its probable causes and consequences. In accordance with the provisions in Article 5.4.1 of Annex 13 of the International Civil Aviation Convention; and with articles 5.5 of Regulation (UE) nº 996/2010, of the European Parliament and the Council, of 20 October 2010; Article 15 of Law 21/2003 on Air Safety and articles 1.4 and 21.2 of Regulation 389/1998, this investigation is exclusively of a technical nature, and its objective is the prevention of future civil aviation accidents and incidents by issuing, if necessary, safety recommendations to prevent from their reoccurrence. The investigation is not pointed to establish blame or liability whatsoever, and it’s not prejudging the possible decision taken by the judicial authorities. Therefore, and according to above norms and regulations, the investigation was carried out using procedures not necessarily subject to the guarantees and rights usually used for the evidences in a judicial process. Consequently, any use of this report for purposes other than that of preventing future accidents may lead to erroneous conclusions or interpretations. This report was originally issued in Spanish. This English translation is provided for information purposes only. Report IN-036/2013 Table of contents Abbreviations ............................................................................................................................... vii Synopsis ........................................................................................................................................ ix 1. Factual information .............................................................................................................. 1 1.1. History of the flight........................................................................................................ 1 1.2. Injuries to persons. ......................................................................................................... 1 1.3. Damage to aircraft. ........................................................................................................ 2 1.4. Other damage. ............................................................................................................... 2 1.5. Personnel information. ................................................................................................... 2 1.5.1. Flight crew ......................................................................................................... 2 1.5.2. Controllers in the Lanzarote tower .................................................................... 2 1.6. Aircraft information ........................................................................................................ 3 1.7. Meteorological information. ........................................................................................... 3 1.8. Aids to navigation. ......................................................................................................... 4 1.9. Communications. ........................................................................................................... 5 1.10. Airport information. ....................................................................................................... 7 1.11. Flight recorders. ............................................................................................................. 9 1.12. Wreckage and impact information. ................................................................................ 11 1.13. Medical and pathological information. ........................................................................... 11 1.14. Fire ................................................................................................................................. 11 1.15. Survival aspects. ............................................................................................................. 11 1.16. Tests and research. ......................................................................................................... 12 1.16.1. Statement from the crew ................................................................................ 12 1.16.2. Statement from the local controllers at the Lanzarote tower .......................... 14 1.16.3. Operational flight plan .................................................................................... 16 1.17. Organizational and management information. ............................................................... 17 1.17.1. Thomson’s fuel policy ...................................................................................... 17 1.17.2. Approach criteria of Thomson Airways ............................................................ 19 1.18. Additional information. .................................................................................................. 21 1.18.1. Congestion in the AAC approach sector of the Canaries TMA ....................... 21 1.18.2. Measures taken by AENA (now ENAIRE) ......................................................... 23 1.18.3. Measures taken by SAERCO ............................................................................ 25 1.18.4. Measures taken by Thomson Airways.............................................................. 25 1.19. Useful or effective investigation techniques. .................................................................. 25 2. Analysis ................................................................................................................................ 27 2.1. General ......................................................................................................................... 27 2.2. Flight operations ............................................................................................................ 27 2.3. Actions of ATS ............................................................................................................... 30 2.4. Survival aspects .............................................................................................................. 32 v Report IN-036/2013 3. Conclusions ............................................................................................................................ 33 3.1. Findings ......................................................................................................................... 33 3.2. Causes/Contributing factors ........................................................................................... 34 4. Safety recommendation ........................................................................................................ 35 5. Appendices ............................................................................................................................ 37 vi Report IN-036/2013 Abbreviations AAL Altitude above aerodrome level ACARS Aircraft communications addressing and reporting system ACC Area control center ADI Aerodrome rating AENA Aeropuertos Españoles y Navegación Aérea AESA Spain’s National Aviation Safety Agency AIP Aeronautical Information Publication APP Approach control APU Auxiliary power unit ATC Air traffic control ATIS Automatic terminal information service ATPL(A) Airline transport pilot license (airplane) CAA Civil Aviation Authority (United Kingdom) CAVOK Ceiling and visibility OK CECOA Airport coordination center CDFA Continuous descent final approach CIAIAC Spain’s Civil Aviation Accident and Incident Investigation Commission CVR Cockpit voice recorder DA Decision altitude DH Decision height DME Distance measuring equipment EGKK London Gatwick airport identifier EGPWS Enhanced ground proximity warning system EU European Union FCL Flight crew license FDM Flight data monitoring FDR Flight data recorder FIR Flight information region FL Flight level FMGS Flight management and guidance system FMS Flight Monitoring System Fpm Feet per minute ft Feet G Gravity GCFV Fuerteventura airport identifier GCLP Las Palmas airport identifier GCRR Lanzarote airport identifier GCTS Tenerife South airport identifier GMAD Agadir-Al Massira airport identifier GMC Ground movement control GMMX Marrakech airport identifier IAF Initial approach fix IAS Indicated airspeed ICAO International Civil Aviation Organization IMC Instrument meteorological conditions ILS Instrument landing system IR Instrument rating JAR Joint Aviation Regulations Kg Kilograms Km Kilometers Kt