American Eagle Tire Blowout causes crash

[FN FAL]

Crash Landing in Puerto Rico Injures 13

By RICARDO ZUNIGA
Associated Press Writer

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) -- A twin-engine plane blew a tire on landing and skidded off the runway at San Juan's main airport Sunday, injuring at least 13 people, authorities said.

One wing on the Super ATR turboprop, which was carrying 22 passengers and four crew members, struck the runway after the blowout, Port Authority executive director Miguel Soto Lacourt said.

The aircraft stopped on its left side in a wooded area and its wing was heavily damaged. Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen said the fuselage was intact.

The 13 injured, including the pilot and co-pilot, were taken to local hospitals and listed in stable condition, he said. Some others aboard had cuts and bruises and ere treated at the scene.

The incident occurred at 2:50 p.m. as American Eagle Flight 5401 was arriving at Luis Munoz Marin International Airport from the Puerto Rican city of Mayaguez.

"It was a disastrous experience but we are alive," flight attendant Luis Ramirez told Univision television.

The FFA said it was investigating the cause of what it called a hard landing. Soto said the pilot didn't tell the control tower of any problems prior to landing.

One of the airport's two runways was shut down but flights were arriving and taking off on the other runway.

The Super ATR has never had any significant problems in the region, said Gary Ellmer, president of American Eagle in the Caribbean.

---

Associated Press writer Mat Probasco in San Juan contributed to this report.

 

[jetexas]

I'd like to hope it was a tire blowout (and not something dumb). Lets hope the press gets this initial report correct for once.

postscript...looks like the didn't, see my post below..

 

[Hugh Johnson]

That was not caused by a blown tire. That was an out of control aircraft.

 

[EagleRJ]

Hard landing.

Look at how the wing is rotated forward, and the cargo door is buckled.

Thank God everyone is OK.

 

[FN FAL]

Wow...the plane looks totalled...they were lucky there was just injuries and no fatalities.

Hard to believe a blown tire could cause all that damage?

 

[jetexas]

The FFA said it was investigating the cause of what it called a hard landing

The FFA (Future Farmers of America)??? Well, let's hope those farm boys get it right! I guess I'll see a lot of those denim jackets with city names and yellow seal on the back around work for a few weeks?

 

[FN FAL]

The FFA (Future Farmers of America)??? Well, let's hope those farm boys get it right!

I know, I read that in the article as well...thought I'd let you guys have at it with that one...

 

[Hugh Johnson]

Reminds me of the Laredo gear up.

 

[Hugh Johnson]

Wonder how AMR will cover this one up. Anyone remember the aircraft/power cart collision in SJU a couple of years ago?

 

[jetexas]

..Boy do I ever. You'd be surprised of the amount of people in my own company that have never heard about that one!

 

[JohnDoe]

Ahhh.....the power cart incident. I forgot about that one......

 

[Hugh Jorgan]

Amazing (and lucky) there was no fire.

 

[Wankel7]

Reminds me of the Laredo gear up.

What happened in LRD?

Wankel

 

[Simon Says]

"One wing on the Super ATR turboprop, which was carrying 22 passengers and four crew members, struck the runway after the blowout, Port Authority executive director Miguel Soto Lacourt said."

None of you NTSB folks caught onto this one yet? Read Carefully.

 

[bart]

Looks to me like the tires blew out in the wells. I can't see anything like landing gear in the photo.

 

[Simon Says]

I can hear it now,

FO: Captain! Did you hear that?

Capt: Ya, that was one of the tires blowin' in the wheel well. Hold on Junior, this is going to get interesting.

FO: OK, skipper your controls.

 

[Hugh Johnson]

Two SAAB guys let maintenance talk them into not using the bottle to blow the gear down after they had a hydraulic problem and it folded on landing. Ever notice you QRH says "Continued on next page", that was a result of that. The pilots claimed the check list didn't lead them to the blow down instructions.