B744, Bagram Afghanistan, 2013

B744, Bagram Afghanistan, 2013

Summary

On 29 April 2013, a Boeing 747-400 freighter departed controlled flight and impacted terrain shortly after taking off from Bagram and was destroyed by the impact and post crash fire and all occupants were killed. The Investigation found that a sudden and significant load shift had occurred soon after take off which damaged hydraulic systems Nos. 1 and 2 and the horizontal stabilizer drive mechanism components as well as moving the centre of gravity aft and out of the allowable flight envelope. The Load shift was attributed to the ineffective securing techniques employed.

Description

On 29 April 2013, a Boeing 747-400 BCF (N949CA) being operated by National Airlines as NCR102 under callsign ISAF 95NQ on a cargo flight from Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan to Dubai World Central was observed to suddenly pitch up to an abnormal attitude almost immediately after a daylight take off from Bagram in VMC. It then began to descend and recovery was not achieved. All 7 crew members were killed and the aircraft destroyed in the subsequent impact with terrain and the post crash fire which followed.

Note that the source of the video is not NTSB

Investigation

An Investigation was commenced by the Afghanistan Ministry of Transportation and Civil Aviation (MoTCA) with significant assistance from the NTSB. On 1 October 2013 responsibility for the conduct of the Investigation was taken over by the NTSB. The CVR and FDR were recovered and their data were successfully downloaded. However both recordings ended as the aircraft climbed through 33 feet agl a few seconds after lift off with no sign of anything abnormal.

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