20 January 1992 - Air Inter 148 Following an uneventful flight from Lyons the crew prepared for a descent and approach to Strasbourg. At first the crew asked for an ILS approach to runway 26 followed by a visual circuit to land on runway 05. This was not possible because of departing traffic from runway 26. The Strasbourg controllers then gave flight 148 radar guidance to ANDLO at 11DME from the Strasbourg VORTAC. Altitude over ANDLO was 5000ft. After ANDLO the VOR/DME approach profile calls for a 5.5% slope (3.3deg angle of descent) to the Strasbourg VORTAC. While trying to program the angle of descent, "-3.3", into the Flight Control Unit (FCU) the crew did not notice that it was in HDG/V/S (heading/vertical speed) mode. In vertical speed mode "-3.3" means a descent rate of 3300ft/min. In TRK/FPA (track/flight path angle) mode this would have meant a (correct) -3.3deg descent angle. A -3.3deg descent angle corresponds with an 800ft/min rate of descent. The Vosges mountains near Strasbourg were in clouds above 2000ft, with tops of the layer reaching about 6400ft when flight 148 started descending from ANDLO. At about 3nm from ANDLO the aircraft struck trees and impacted a 2710ft high ridge at the 2620ft level. Because the aircraft was not GPWS-equipped, the crew were not warned.
CTRL = Strasbourg ATC
PF = Captain (Pilot Flying)
PNF = First Officer (Pilot Non-Flying)
Source Contents PNF I don't understand why you do not try a zero-five VOR DME after all PF Because the zero five VOR DME, we've got to arrive here, leave, go to God knows where, and come back again (*) PNF Ah, yes, OK PF If not, it's necessary to go out to 11 STR, that makes eleven, 22 miles means another 10 minutes' flight (*) (*) PNF Sierra Echo identified PF I'v set you the return track to STR eh, ... zero-five-zero PNF OK PF We'll do the pre-descent procedure PNF (*) PF I doesn't matter PNF I'm ready PF Pre-descend checklist PNF ECAM status checked. Speed bugs PF They are set PNF Standby altimeter PF One thousand and twenty-three PNF One thousand and twenty-three, altimeter (*) checked. Engine anti-ice PF To OFF PNF FMGS parameters inserted and the harnesses PF (*) PNF Checklist completed. We descend in one minute, it's OK? PF In one-and-a-half minutes, two minutes, we've enough time PNF Air Inter one four eight Delta Alpha we'd like to descend in one minute CTRL Delta Alpha descend level one hundred thrity PNF To one hundred thrity, we'll descend Delta Alpha CTRL Delta Alpha heading to ANDLO PNF Heading to ANDLO correct? CTRL Affirmative PF To? PNF ANDLO PF ANDLO, oh there, they are a nuisance (*) CTRL Air Inter Delta Alpha what's your heading to ANDLO? PNF Our heading is zero fifty three to ANDLO CTRL Delta Alpha, maintain heading zero fifty-three until further advised PNF We'll maintain until further advised. Ah, I say, Reims, their control there (*) that one goes to Epinal CTRL Air Inter Delta Alpha continue descent to level seventy PNF Continuing descent to seventy Delta Alpha PF There we're of. Idle open PNF Idle open descent CA Ladies and gentlemen, we are starting our descent. We ask you to please return to your seats. Thank you CTRL Air Inter Delta Alpha the level on descent PNF (*) one fifty descending to seventy Delta Alpha CTRL Delta Alpha received, no more restrictions on heading, contact Strasbourg one twenty dot seven. Goodbye PNF No more restrictions on heading one twenty seven, Strasbourg approach, good day. Air inter one hundred forty-eight Delta Alpha CTRL One hundred forty-eight Delta Alpha, good day. Proceed to ANDLO. Your distance? PF (*) PNF Yes ANDLO, and we are at twenty-two nautical DME from STR CTRL Received, continue the descent to five thousand feet QNH one thousand twenty-three call ANDLO five thousand feet PNF Five thousand feet, thousand twenty-three, we'll call ANDLO five thousand PNF There one thousand... PF And sixty (*). PF Safety height twenty-two. OK it's alright... five thousand two hundred feet ... twenty one ... OK it's good. PNF (*) PF One thousand and five ... we'll do the procedure at two thousand ... initial approach (*) eleven thousand twohundred feet now. PNF OK. PF TOP PNF No. Eleven thousand feet, one thousand five..one thousand five not one thousand eight PF Yes it's one thousand eight PNF One thousand twenty-three that makesone thousand five. PF One thousand five? PNF For Delta Alpha, you confirm Fox Echo one thousand five, zero five correct? CTRL The Fox Echo is one thousand five, zero five and QNH one thousand twenty-three PNF Thank you Sir. One thousand five. Ten thousand four hundred... PF Ten thousand four hundred feet ready, now PNF It's correct. it's OK. Checklist initial approach Baro ref altimeters set compared. Seatbelts ON. PF It's set PNF Engine anti-ice OFF for the moment (*) PF No PNF Marker selected to listen on righthand side. Engine mode selector set to normal. Checklist completed PF We're passing ANDLO PNF We're passing ANDLO, Air Inter Delta Alpha, level ... er! Sorry seven thousand five hundred feet, descending. CTRL Received one hundred forty-eight Delta Alpha, you are number one for te VOR DME zero five, call passing the VOR in final PNF Number one for the VOR DME zero five PNF We could ask him to confirm the cloud base now... how many miles? PF Ten miles. It's not going to work, tell him, we'll make a ... PNF Yes, 'maxi maxi'. Confirm cloud base Strasbourg? CTRL We have three-eighths at elevenhundred feet and six-eighths at two thousand six hundred feet PF That's good PNF Yeah, we planned to proceed Sierra Echo, do an ILS, then an indirect for zero five. PF [Chime] (*) CTRL Received Delta Alpha PF What's the temperature? PNF The temperature...? CTRL Delta Alpha, initially maintain five thousand, QNH, one thousand twenty three and as there will be three takeoffs on zero five, you may have to hold in the stack at five thousand feet. PF We'll have to go back to doing a VOR DME procedure ... then ... PNF We'll go back to the VOR DME procedure at this time then CTRL OK PF We would not have made an India Mike descent like that of they had told us beforehand, but there we are, we're arriving flat out CTRL Delta Alpha ... Strasbourg PNF I'm listening to you CTRL If you want I can take you on the radar to bring ou to ANDLO at five thousand PF Er! Yeah, that's good PNF Yes CTRL OK! Then six one zero zero, turn left heading two hundred thirty PNF Sixty-one zero zero and heading two hundred thirty to the left CTRL There you are, that will save you time PF (*) PNF Thank you ? I'll give you zero five (*) CTRL Maintain five thousand on reaching it and until ANDLO, the QNH is one thousand twenty three PNF QNH one thousand twenty-three, maintaining five thousand. PF The distances there ... er! ... Ah yes, there (*) overhead the 250 moving out to eleven STR, we repass ANDLO on the track and we leave at eleven STR .. 4500 feet, nine STR, 3800, seven, three,two hundred. In case of go around we climb on the centreline CTRL Delta Alpha, six nautical radial two hundred ninety for Strasbourg PNF Received Delta Alpha PF The coud-break is made on zero fifty. It's a slope of 3 point five er! five point five ... That is three (*) three. PF We'll select anti-ice (*). PF And the lot, the wings as well. PNF Yes PF What's up? PNF It's nice and new, but that's what's wrong PF Yes, yes, there is ice on it. PF It's crazy, eh? When you're not ready the time it takes to get to five thousand feet to ANDLO flat out. It doesn't work eh? And also at ... what ... ten miles from final. CTRL Air Inter Delta Alpha turn left (*) heading ninety, zero nine zero PNF Heading ninety, zero nine zero to the left Delta Alpha PF Flaps to one PNF Flaps to one. (*) One CTRL Air Inter Delta Alpha continue left turn to establish yourself on zero fifty one, you are four miles from ANDLO, passing left of ANDLO PF OK PNF Received, we will call established on QDM zero fifty one CTRL Affirmative sir PNF We will (*) (*) PNF Il aurait fallu qu'tu ouvres au zero sept zero PF Yeah, yeah PNF At least CTRL Air Inter Delta Alpha passing right of ANDLO, authorized (*) final approach VOR DME zero five PNF Delta Alpha PF Flaps to two PNF Flaps to two, (*) two PF Gear down PNF I'll prepare the lights without putting them on CTRL Delta Alpha call the VOR on final PF OK PNF Call the VOR on final (*) pass eight hundred feet PF (*) PNF On centerline. (*) Half a dot from centerline. There is is, it had been at sixty, it's good, you see here [Two hundred] - radio altimeter callout End of Recording ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cockpit Voice Recorder Database, visit us at www.tailstrike.com