Tail wind again?
Date:22 MAY 2010 Time:ca 06:10 Type:Boeing 737-8HG(WL) Operator:Air India Express
Runway 24 has an available landing distance of 2450 m.
The visibility was approximately six kilometers, winds were calm, there was no rain and the runaway was dry."
On video recordings from the accident it is possible to see the smoke drifting from the tail and forward.
This indicates a slight tail wind during landing.
Definitely the pilot had problems to reduce speed but decided to land instead of making a go around.
A very common reason for high speed during approach is a considerable tail wind at higher altitude.
Compare with this accident at the same airport 29 years ago
Date:18 AUG 1981 Type:Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. HAL-748-224 Srs. 2 Operator:Indian Airlines
The aircraft approached Mangalore and landed half way down the runway. The aircraft overran the runway and nosed over into a valley after the choice of landing on down-sloping runway with a tail-component."
From Google bout he northeasterly trade winds:
Northeast winds over the tropical Atlantic and The Pacific Ocean.
Wind direction and wind speed are virtually constant years
around. Conclusion: This trade wind gives tail wind when landing on R/W 24.
Two tail wind accidents.
Date:12 MAY 2010 Time:06:10 Type:Airbus A330-202 Operator:Afriqiyah Airways
The airplane crashed and broke up about 900 m from the runway 09 threshold and 200 m to the south of the extended centreline.
HLLT 120420Z 27007KT 5000 BR NSC 19/17 Q1009= [04:20 UTC; Winds 270 degrees at 7 knots; visibility 5000m
Date:22 DEC 2009 Time:22:22 Type:Boeing 737-823 (WL) Operator:American Airlines
Landing on runway 12 during a rainstorm. The plane skidded across a road and came to rest on a beach.
Current information indicates that given the wind direction of 320 degrees at 8 knots, the airplane carried out a tailwind approach and landing on runway 12.
