United StatesSan Francisco International Airport, California
Asiana Airlines Flight 214 — San Francisco
During a visual approach, the aircraft descended below the desired path and its airspeed decayed. The crew recognized the low-energy condition late, and the go-around was initiated too late to avoid impact with the seawall.
DateJul 06, 2013
AircraftBoeing 777-200ERHL7742
OperatorAsiana Airlines
Flight phaseApproach
WeatherDay visual conditions; the instrument landing system glideslope for the runway was out of service.
OutcomeThe aircraft struck the seawall short of runway 28L and was destroyed; three passengers died and many occupants were injured.
01
Contributing factors
F1
Mismanagement of descent and unintended loss of automatic airspeed control
F2
Inadequate airspeed monitoring and delayed go-around
F3
Automation complexity, training, crew coordination, and fatigue identified by the NTSB
02
Safety response
- Recommendations addressed automation documentation and training
- Visual-approach and instructor training were reviewed
- Survival, restraint, slide, and rescue issues also produced recommendations
03
Lessons learned
- An approach can look visually manageable while energy is becoming unsafe
- Mode awareness must be confirmed by aircraft response
- A go-around decision loses effectiveness when delayed to very low height
04
Knowledge connections
05