Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Pusan
Monday, April 15, 2002 11:40

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

On Monday, April 15, 2002, at 1140 local time, a Boeing 767-200ER, Chinese registration B-2552, operating as Air China flight 129, crashed during approach to the Kimhae International Airport near Pusan (also known as Busan City), South Korea. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and ground fire. Of the 155 passengers and 11 crewmembers on board, at least 128 were killed and 36 survived with varying injuries, including the captain. The airplane had departed Beijing, China, and was destined for Pusan, South Korea. The investigation is being conducted by the South Korean Ministry of Transport.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/15/2002
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1140
Event Time Zone --
Event City Pusan
Event State --
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site --
Event Date Year 2002
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport --
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Witness
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions --
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Partial Obscuration
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) --
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator --
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal 138
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 28
Injury Total All 166
Investigating Agency Foreign
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) --
NTSB Notification Source NTSB Com Center (via CNN)
NTSB Notification Date Apr 14 2002 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1130
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 18 2002 2:26PM
User who most recently changed record HAUT
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office FAA Headquarters: AAI-100

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number --
NTSB Number DCA02RA032
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Non-U.S., Commercial
Type of Flight Plan filed --
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire --
Aircraft Explosion --
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Boeing
Aircraft Model 767-200ER
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number --
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft --
Number of Engines --
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed --
ELT Activated --
ELT Aided Location of Event Site --
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name --
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City --
Aircraft Owner State --
Aircraft Owner Country --
Aircraft Owner Zipcode --
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Bejing
Operator State --
Operator Country CH
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight International
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger Only
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) --
Second Pilot on Board --
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code --
Departure City Bejing
Departure State --
Departure Country CH
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone --
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City Pusan
Destination State --
Destination Country KS
Specific Phase of Flight Approach - circling (IFR)
Report sent to ICAO? Yes
Evacuation occurred Yes
Date of most recent change to record Mar 7 2003 2:22PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\HAMG
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --