Ttailsteve From United States, joined May 2006, 65 posts, RR: 0 Posted (2 years 6 months 1 day 23 hours ago) and read 594 times:
What happened to 2605, not alot on the net about it. I tried to get the Mexican investigative documents but can't find them. There has been romours about the FO and his mental and phsyical state due to a divorce and loosing alot of weight and lack of sleep. Also, I have read from some sources the FO and Capt had argued--with the Capt stating he was going to report him to the check pilot. Info Please. thank you in advance.
Status: Final
Date: 31 OCT 1979
Time: 05:42
Type: McDonnell Douglas DC-10-10
Operator: Western Air Lines
Registration: N903WA
C/n / msn: 46929/107
Year built: 1973
Total airframe hrs: 24614
Cycles: 7345
Engines: 3 General Electric CF6-6K
Crew: Fatalities: 9 / Occupants: 11
Passengers: Fatalities: 63 / Occupants: 77
Total: Fatalities: 72 / Occupants: 88
Ground casualties: Fatalities: 1
Airplane damage: Written off
Location: Mexico City-Juarez International Airport (MEX) (Mexico)
Phase: Landing
Nature: International Scheduled Passenger
Departure airport: Los Angeles International Airport, CA (LAX)
Destination airport: Mexico City-Juarez International Airport (MEX)
Flightnumber: 2605
Narrative:
Flight 2605 departed Los Angeles at 01:40 for a flight to Mexico City. Because of refurbishing work on runway 23L, the flight was cleared for a runway 23R approach. Descend through a fog bank was continued below the 600 feet minimum for instrument approaches. The aircraft touched down with the left main gear in the grass left of 23L and with the right main gear on the runway shoulder. Go-around power was added and the nose lifted 10-11deg. The right main gear then collided with a truck located on the runway. The gear leg separated and struck the right tailplane and elevator, causing substantial damage. The aircraft banked to the right until it struck the left wing struck the cab of an excavator, 1500m from the runway threshold, continued and crashed into a building and caught fire.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "Non-compliance with the meteorological minima for the approach procedure, as cleared; failure to comply with the aircraft's operating procedures during the approach phase, and landing on a runway closed to traffic."
PanAm747 From United States, joined Feb 2004, 4009 posts, RR: 6 Reply 1, posted (2 years 6 months 1 day 23 hours ago) and read 564 times:
Just about the only black eye Western Airlines ever suffered. And in my mind, one of the more mysterious accidents ever to occur.
WA 2605 was told not once, not twice, but three times that runway 23L was closed. They were to side-step the runway; that is use 23L on approach (to use the navigation equipment), but change over to 23R.
They never did.
Also pointed out, on the cockpit transcripts, that 600 feet was never called out; consequently, the plane was never cleared to land.
Source: "Flights Of Terror" by David Gero.
Pan Am:The World's Most Experienced Airline - P(oor) S(ailor's) A(irline): San Diego's Hometown Airline-Catch Our Smile!
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