All Nippon Airways Flight 391 Hakodate Airport landing accident

The All Nippon Airways Flight 391 Hakodate Airport landing accident (Zennikkū 391-bin Hakodate Kūkō chakuriku shippai jiko) is an aviation accident in which an All Nippon Airways Airbus A321 encountered severe wind shear during final approach on 21 January 2002 (Heisei 14) and damaged its rear fuselage.

Overview of the accident

All Nippon Airways Flight 391, from Komaki Airport to Hakodate Airport, was flying over the approach lights of runway 12 to land at Hakodate Airport when, at a point 140 metres short of the runway and at a height above ground of about 53 feet, the wind shear warning activated, so the crew began recovery action.

The aircraft increased engine thrust to maximum take-off thrust, but because the recovery of climb performance came too late, at around 13:03 the rear of the aircraft contacted the runway. At this time the aircraft sustained damage such as cracks in the airframe frames, the aft pressure bulkhead and the floor beams, and 3 cabin attendants were slightly injured. The aircraft then attempted to land again and landed at Hakodate Airport at around 13:20.

Cause of the accident

The Civil Aviation Bureau of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism designated this case an "aviation accident", and the Aircraft and Railway Accidents Investigation Commission carried out an accident investigation. Subsequently, on 26 September 2003, the Aircraft and Railway Accidents Investigation Commission published a report stating that the aircraft encountered wind shear and took recovery action by increasing engine thrust to maximum take-off thrust, but that, partly because the approach speed was low, the recovery of climb performance came too late.

Subsequent history of the accident aircraft

After repairs to the aft pressure bulkhead and other parts, the accident aircraft returned to the routes and was used as an operating aircraft until June 2006, after which it was sold to a leasing company.