Wonder how hard you have to land for this to happen......

**Lateral-G** · October 3rd, 2011, 04:48

From AVWeb

On Sept. 26, a McDonnell Douglas DC-9-51 operated by Aeropostal landed at Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela, with enough force to crack both engine pylons at the airframe, leaving them dangling at the rear fuselage sides. None of the five crew and 125 passengers were seriously injured and all were evacuated onto the runway after the aircraft was stopped. The jet, registered YV136T, is more than 35 years old. The flight, VH 342, according to the Aviation Safety Network, had operated from Caracas and landed at Puerto Ordaz in a manner that has been described as "very hard." This is one you really have to see to believe. We expect your letters, anyway.

A passenger told El Nacional that the impact with the runway had been hard and that afterward there was a slight burning smell in the aircraft. Passengers were reassured by the crew and aided with evacuation. The aircraft was later towed from the runway. It was a regularly scheduled domestic flight. No local weather reports were immediately available. According to El Universal of Caracas, the investigation is being initiated by the JIAAC, the civil aviation accident investigation agency of Argentina. The incident aircraft was fitted with Pratt & Whitney JT-8D-17A (HK3) engines. It was first operated commercially by Finnair from October of 1976 through March of 1984 and has since served with Alisarda, Linea Aeropostal Venezolana, and Aeropostal.

**Thoe6969** · October 3rd, 2011, 05:18

Can't believe the landing gear is still intact.

**kilo delta** · October 3rd, 2011, 05:36

Looks like a pretty standard Ryanair B738 landing!

**Wulf190** · October 3rd, 2011, 05:41

Holy Crap! I thought I did hard landings, but that makes even my worst one look like a greaser!

**Matt Wynn** · October 3rd, 2011, 05:48

Originally Posted by kilo delta

Looks like a pretty standard Ryanair B738 landing!

....don't remind me! a car wreck is more gentle!

**AndyG43** · October 3rd, 2011, 06:36

Originally Posted by kilo delta

Looks like a pretty standard Ryanair B738 landing!

Tell me about it!! Only one way to deal with Ryanair landings ........

That Venezuelan has to be a wannabe naval aviator, it was just a practice carrier landing!

***fallenphoenix1986*** · October 3rd, 2011, 07:03

So suddenly finding oneself 3" shorter no longer qualifies as a serious injury?

Craig

**Tako_Kichi** · October 3rd, 2011, 10:05

I read a rumour somewhere that stated that the altimeter may have been incorrectly set by the crew and the pilot thought that the airport altitude was 25ft lower than it actually was. If that's true then he basically flew it into the ground as there would have been no flare for landing.

***TARPSBird*** · October 3rd, 2011, 10:10

Third World airline, 'nuff said.

If the engine mounts failed I suspect the landing gear got overstressed as well.

**CWOJackson** · October 3rd, 2011, 10:38

I wonder how long that delayed their scheduled departure.

**stuartcox** · October 3rd, 2011, 11:03

Obio could have done better...

**AndyG43** · October 3rd, 2011, 11:48

Originally Posted by stuartcox

Obio could have done better...

I've just worked on the assumption that the pilot's name was El Pantera.

***Roger*** · October 3rd, 2011, 12:14

Originally Posted by AndyG43

I've just worked on the assumption that the pilot's name was El Pantera.

Nah Andy...to be a proper "Panther" there needs to be smoke and much fire:icon_twi: Glad that in the real world no souls were lost.

**Naismith** · October 3rd, 2011, 13:44

Originally Posted by kilo delta

Looks like a pretty standard Ryanair B738 landing!

Good one, I was gonna say Easyjet..

**lazarus** · October 3rd, 2011, 13:50

Not the first time for that. You whack a -9 on hard enough it sets up a standing wave that pops the ass end off- a resonance thing. Ouch though. Not a top gun moment! Watch the wave move back down to the tail...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIsbSz03WdU

**Railrunner130** · October 3rd, 2011, 14:27

I've always wondered if anyone had done that. The video is incredible!

That's really interesting in that similar landings in similar airplanes had different results.

In the pics, the tail is bent, but not broken off. The engine mounts obviously broke free. However, in the video, the tail separated, but it appears that the engine mounts remained. I suspect that the right main landing gear in the video was badly damaged and might have collapsed.

Anyone know the results of the airplane in the video?

I imagine both airplanes are totaled.

**lazarus** · October 3rd, 2011, 18:36

It was a company prototype on test at Edwards. Landed long, stuffed it down at a high decent rate. I think the F.E. broke a leg and the aircraft ended up as spares.
Not quite as violent as the DHC-5 demonstrating a VERY short landing. Theres another angle from the front somewhere. Hilarious. The co-jo got the hatch opened and is planting his size 10's on the pilots head going out before the wreck even grinds to a halt. DHC actually sold a few Buffalo's because ot this
'structural integrity' demo!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmYpP-6r7Lo

**demorier** · October 4th, 2011, 00:40

If I'm not mistaken it's "Plummet Airlines".

**Dev One** · October 4th, 2011, 04:22

That Buffalo crash was at Farnborough methinks & it happened in front of the TV cameras as the BBC were televising it! Remember seeing it!
Keith

**kilo delta** · October 4th, 2011, 06:43

Originally Posted by Dev One

That Buffalo crash was at Farnborough methinks & it happened in front of the TV cameras as the BBC were televising it! Remember seeing it!
Keith

Yep..It happened at the Farnborough Airshow in '84

**SpitXIV** · October 4th, 2011, 18:30

Originally Posted by TARPSBird

Third World airline, 'nuff said.

If the engine mounts failed I suspect the landing gear got overstressed as well.

Roger that! with pilots like that I'll stay in the US. :salute:

**lazarus** · October 4th, 2011, 20:32

Originally Posted by kilo delta

Yep..It happened at the Farnborough Airshow in '84

Thats it! Its one of the case studies in human factors. The CVR tapes are hilarious, the first officer making a number of terse comments while calling out alarming descent rates, and some very pithy comments before evacuating the aircraft. break break Theres no better way to snuff it than flying third world airways. I purly love watching a China Eastern driver rasslin a '47 down in a cross wind. Its only a matter of time before Richmond has room for a new subdivision!

**CG_1976** · October 4th, 2011, 20:46

442SQ RCAF are the Buffalo experts, unless there down for maint. They need to get the C27J or get Viking to build new Buffalo's. Forget about the foul CASA, just ask the USCG HC144 drivers.