Page:CAB Accident Report, Continental Airlines Flight 290.pdf/3

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Flight 290 was observed executing an approach from the ILS outer marker to runway 18. After pa851ng the runway threshold, apprOXimately 80 feet above the ground, the aircraft flew over the 7,000—foot long runway in what appeared to be a go—around. A climbing attitude was observed accompanied by engine sounds Similar to those normally assoc1ated with a Viscount go—around or takeoff. The main landing gears were noted, by a number of witnesses, to be in the down pOSition. According to the flight recorder the airSpeed was approximately 132 knots as the aircraft crossed the runway threshold and was relatively constant until about 700 feet past the threshold when there was a deceleration to 118 knots with no loss of altitude.

The altitude remained nearly constant until about 3,000 feet down the runway, at which pOint the aircraft descended to about 50 feet. It then ascended to an altitude of 90 feet from which it nosed over into the ground.

The airspeed reached its minimum value of 118 knots about 2,200 feet south of the approach end of runway 18 and then increased steadily until it reached 138 knots at the time of the nose—over.

From a pos1tion apprOXimately 750 feet south of the approach end of runway 18 to the pOint at which the aircraft nosed over, there is little variation of the acceleration (G) trace-g/ However, at the time the nose—over occurred the trace shows a negative excurSion which was terminated at —O.9G by the impact.

During the flight over the runway the aircraft's heading remained within 2 degrees of the published ILS localizer heading of 184 degrees magnetic

Shortly after paSSing beyond the south end of runway 18 the aircraft nosed down sharply, and crashed, and burned. (See Attachment #1.) A witness approximately 200 yards from the impact area stated that the aircraft nosed over very sharply into a steep dive but that the nose was rotating upwards Just before impact. The aircraft struck a mound of dirt, (blast mound).§/ The pOint of initial contact of the nose gear was approx1mately 23 feet right of the extended runway centerline and 284 feet beyond the south end of runway 18 on a heading of about 184 degrees magnetic. The attitude of the aircraft at impact was more than 22 degrees below the horizon, Wings level. The initial impact pOint was clearly shown, in the pﬁund, by the imprint of the nose gear, all four engines, and the leading edge of

e wing.

The aircraft slid over the crest of the blast mound, sailed over the perimeter road, struck the Side of a river dike, and skidded over the top of the dike towards the Missouri River. The main fuselage and mayor portion of the wing came to rest

2/ Acceleration "G" trace is the marking on the fell of the fllght recorder tape that reflects the acceleration of the airplane in a direction perpendicular to its planform.

2/ The blast mound was a large mound of dirt that shelters the airport peri— meter road from Jet blast and propeller wash of aircraft taking off on runway 36-