A321, vicinity Islamabad Pakistan, 2010

A321, vicinity Islamabad Pakistan, 2010

Summary

On 28 July 2010, the crew of an Airbus A321 lost contact with the runway at Islamabad during a visual circling approach and continued in IMC outside the protected area and flying into terrain after repeatedly ignoring EGPWS Terrain Alerts and PULL UP Warnings. The Investigation concluded that the Captain had pre-planned a non-standard circuit which had been continued into IMC and had then failed to maintain situational awareness, control the aircraft through correct FMU inputs or respond to multiple EGPWS Warnings. The inexperienced First Officer appeared unwilling to take control in the absence of corrective action by the Captain.

Description

On 28 July 2010, an Airbus AIRBUS A-321 (AP-BJB) being operated by Air Blue on a scheduled domestic flight from Karachi to Islamabad as ABQ 202 failed to complete a daytime visual circling approach at destination after entering Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC). The wreckage of the aircraft, which had been destroyed by the impact and subject to a post crash fire, was subsequently found approximately 10 nm from the aerodrome in the Margalla Hills. The aircraft had been destroyed by the impact and all 152 occupants fatally injured.

Investigation

An Investigation was carried out by the Safety Investigation Board (SIB) of the Pakistan CAA. The SSFDR and 2 hour SSCVR were recovered and their data, which in both cases covered the whole of the accident flight were successfully downloaded to assist the Investigation.

It was established that the 61 year old Captain had accumulated a total of 25,497 hours flying experience of which just over 1000 hours were on A320 series aircraft. The 34 year old First Officer had accumulated 1837 hours flying experience of which just 286 hours were on A320 series aircraft.

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