Created Wednesday, Dec 2nd 2020 08:58Z, last updated Tuesday, Jan 5th 2021 21:30Z
An Air Djibouti Boeing 737-500, registration EY-560 performing flight IV-206 from Hargeisa (Somaliland/Somalia) to Garowe (Puntland/Somalia) with 31 passengers and 8 crew, landed at Garowe (capital of Puntland) Airport's runway 06 at about 09:30L (06:30Z) but touched down short of the runway and suffered the collapse of the right hand main gear during roll out. The aircraft veered to the right but came to a stop within the runway edge resting on right hand engine, left main and nose gear. There were no injuries, the passengers disembarked/evacuated onto the runway and were taken to the terminal.
The flight had originated in Djibouti (Djibouti) and was destined for Mogadishu (Somalia) with intermediate stops in Hargeisa and Garowe.
Garowe International Airport features an asphalt runway 06/24 of 2000 meters/6600 feet length.
Local Media report the airport has been without operating fire truck for about 2 months due to a missing tyre and thus could not respond to the accident although smoke could be seen from the right hand side of the aircraft near the landing gear.
The airline stated: "This morning, December 02, 2020, at around 9:00 a.m., a Boeing 737 of the Air Djibouti airline company left the runway when it landed at Garoowe - Puntland airport, following a tire problem, an incident that did not cause any injuries. No injuries among the 39 passengers and 5 crew members."
Puntland's Minister of Civil Aviation and Airports stated the aircraft suffered the collapse of one of the main gear struts (editorial note: there is no mention of any prior problem or emergency landing). The pilots managed to keep the aircraft on the runway. An accident investigation commission of 6 including the minister and vice minister, Civil Aviation Director, Garowe's Airport Manager, an aircraft engineer and the head of ATC has been formed. The Minister further detailed the aircraft touched down short of the runway at a higher landing speed.
The Aviation Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) of the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation of the Federal Republic of Somalia released their preliminary report reporting the sequence of events were:
The Boeing 737-500, with registration EY-560, operated by Air Djibouti, flew from Hargeisa to Garowe on 02 December 2020 at 06:25Z, with 8 crew and 31 passengers on board.
On the day of the accident, the pilot completed preflight check and departed from Hargeisa at 05:40Z with 9500 kg fuel on board.
On arrival at Garowe, the pilot conducted visual approach for runway 06 and at low altitude the aircraft experienced a windshear landing before threshold. The indicated airspeed of the aircraft before impact was 135kts, the accident occurred at 06:25Z.
Examination of the accident site showed the aircraft experienced hard landing and burst two right tires on the ground which also resulted to damage on the engine.
The AAIB reported the weather conditions at the time of the accident: "Weather information at 06:25Z, indicated FEW low clouds at 2000ft, visibility was more than 10km and wind direction was 0600 North-East at speed approximately 17kts."
The captain (53, ATPL) had accumulated 6,050 hours total, 5,170 hours on type.
The AAIB released following preliminary analysis:
The aircraft condition was airworthy before the accident.
The crew had appropriate qualifications and expertise.
The factor contributing the accident is weather condition.
Windshear was the major cause of the accident.
The AAIB released following preliminary recommendations:
Upgrade the weather forecast for timely update on weather factors to mitigate weather related occurrences.
Upgrade emergency services with modern equipment to handle emergencies.
Rehearse emergency response drills and communications to improve on required services.
Acquire required heavy equipment removal capabilities.
Routine and updated training to enhance personnel competencies.
The right main gear bent backwards (Photo: AAIB):
Ground tracks of the aircraft at the threshold of the runway (Photos: Puntland Ministry of Aviation):
The aircraft seen on the runway after landing:
The sorry sight of the airport fire truck without its right front wheel:
Map (Graphics: AVH/Google Earth):
