Originally Posted by
990Convair
Just talked to a bud that was in ANC when suddenly beers started flowing from another non-Fed-Ex pilot. Turns out, the Captain that was in command on the EWR crash years ago was buying rounds for the Fed-Ex boys. He is flying for an airline up there and sat down to tell his tale on the EWR crash. Since the result was a broken gear, flipped jet, big fire....one can't help but think how it plays into NRT.
He said that they were on final to what they thought was a 6,700 ft runway (didn't figure the 1500 over-run). They planned to put her down firmly and did, and here's the whopper, they started to LOWER the nose thinking they were down, BUT, they had bounced didn't realize they were airborne and basically lowered the nose striking it first on the runway. You know the rest of the story.
Watch FLT 80's video. She bounces, flies along for a few seconds, then the nose gently lowers itself, striking first and starting the out of control bouncing and gear/wing seperation.
The EWR Capt said it was eerily similar....nose first, gear separates, wing separates, fire, flip.
Hmmm?
Interesting. I've noted a lot of planes making that small bounce that put it back in the air. Most planes I've been on previously have the boards come up so quick that the plane sticks.
Here is a link to a video showing what I mean...
YouTube - Crosswind Landing - by FedEx Express McDonnell Douglas MD-11(F) ?N587FE?
also, as to the discussion of the radar or PWS needing rain, it is true that the newer digital signal processing allows the radar to work with much smaller particles. The resolution is still limited by radar antenna size, but the short wavelength allows even dust to show potential turbulence.
see here for a little discussion...
Avionics Magazine :: Tackling Turbulence
cp