1974 Dan-Air Luton incident

The 1974 Dan-Air Luton incident was a non-fatal incident with potentially serious consequences involving a Boeing 727-46 jet aircraft operated by Dan Air Services Limited on a non-scheduled international passenger service from Luton Airport to Corfu Airport. The incident, which occurred on 21 June 1974 during takeoff from Luton Airport, substantially damaged both the aircraft and the airport's instrument landing system (ILS) but did not harm any of the 134 occupants (126 passengers and eight crew).
Aircraft history
The aircraft, operated by Dan Air Services Ltd, was a Boeing 727-46 (construction/manufacturer's serial number: 18879, line number: 254, registration G-BAEF (ex-JA8312)) that had its first flight in 1966.

Flight history
During takeoff from Luton's runway 26, the aircraft did not become airborne until it had almost reached the end of the runway. It then hit the centre section of the ILS localiser antennae beyond the end of the runway, as well as several approach lights of runway 08. This rendered the airport's ILS inoperative while substantially damaging the underside of the aircraft. Despite initially following a downsloping course, the aircraft eventually gained positive climb. After being told by Luton air traffic control (ATC) about the incident, the crew elected to divert to London Gatwick where, after burning off fuel, it landed safely without harming its 134 occupants (eight crew members and 126 passengers).
Accident investigation and cause
The subsequent investigation revealed that the aircraft only just became airborne at the end of the runway, and as the ground fell away to the Lea valley below, it actually sank below the runway elevation before establishing a positive rate of climb. The Accidents Investigation Branch (AIB) report concluded that there had been a cumulative effect of three factors — erosion of take-off run available; delay in starting rotation; and a very slow rate of rotation — as a result of the flightdeck crew's miscalculation of the aircraft's takeoff weight (too high), a wrong pressure ratio for two of the aircraft's three engines (too low) and a sub-optimal choice of runway based on the use of outdated wind information that omitted the latest update's tailwind component. The first error increased the aircraft's takeoff weight beyond the permissible limit as set out in the company's operations manual while the combination of the second and third reduced the takeoff speed and prolonged the takeoff run. This resulted in the nosewheel lifting off the ground later than usual and the aircraft continuing its takeoff run in a partially rotated attitude beyond the end of the runway, where it appeared to become airborne just at the end of the stopway. With regard to the captain's failure to take into account surface wind information of a slight tailwind that should have made him consider taking off from runway 08, the report mentioned potential loss of departure clearance due to an extremely tight takeoff time slot as the most plausible explanation for his decision to ignore this information. Luton's lack of taxiways at either threshold of its runway necessitating a 180 degree turn to line up for takeoff were also cited as additional factors contributing to the reduction in the aircraft's available takeoff run.

Main Menu

See Also

Main Menu