Jump to content

Air Inter Flight 148: Difference between revisions

Coordinates: 48°25′31″N 007°24′18″E / 48.42528°N 7.40500°E / 48.42528; 7.40500
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
correct callsign
mNo edit summary
 
(32 intermediate revisions by 20 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|1992 plane crash in the Vosges Mountains, France}}
{{Short description|1992 plane crash in the Vosges Mountains, France}}
⚫
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
<noinclude>{{User:RMCD bot/subject notice|1=Air Inter Flight 5148|2=Talk:Air Inter Flight 148#Requested move 5 August 2023}}
⚫
{{Expand French|topic=transp|date=December 2018}}
⚫
</noinclude>{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
⚫
{{Expand French|date=December 2018}}
{{Infobox aircraft occurrence
{{Infobox aircraft occurrence
| occurrence_type = Accident
| occurrence_type = Accident
Line 10: Line 9:
| caption = F-GGED, the aircraft involved in the accident, seen in January 1991
| caption = F-GGED, the aircraft involved in the accident, seen in January 1991
| date = {{start date|1992|1|20|df=y}}
| date = {{start date|1992|1|20|df=y}}
| type = [[Controlled flight into terrain]] on approach at night<!-- No causes in the summary, only circumstances; leave the causes for the article body per project consensus -->
| type = [[Controlled flight into terrain]] due to ATC error and [[pilot error]]; poor training and safety standards
| site = [[Mont Sainte-Odile]], west of [[Bas-Rhin|Barr]], 10.5nm S/W of [[Strasbourg International Airport|Strasbourg Airport]], [[Strasbourg]], France<ref name="BEA"/>
| site = [[Mont Sainte-Odile]], west of [[Bas-Rhin|Barr]], 10.5nm S/W of [[Strasbourg International Airport|Strasbourg Airport]], [[Strasbourg]], France<ref name="BEA"/>
| coordinates = {{Coord|48|25|31|N|007|24|18|E|region:FR-67_type:event_scale:20000|display=title,inline}}
| coordinates = {{Coord|48|25|31|N|007|24|18|E|region:FR-67_type:event_scale:20000|display=title,inline}}
Line 29: Line 28:
}}
}}
[[File:Air Inter Flight 148 wreckage.jpg|thumb|upright|Air Inter Flight 148 wreckage]]
[[File:Air Inter Flight 148 wreckage.jpg|thumb|upright|Air Inter Flight 148 wreckage]]
'''Air Inter Flight 148''' (officially '''Flight 5148''') was a scheduled passenger flight from [[Lyon Satolas Airport]] to [[Strasbourg Airport]] in France. On 20 January 1992, the [[Airbus A320 family|Airbus A320]] operating the flight [[Controlled flight into terrain|crashed]] into the slopes of the [[Vosges Mountains]], [[France]], near [[Mont Sainte-Odile]], while on a non-precision approach at Strasbourg Airport. Eighty-seven of the 96 people on board were killed, while the remaining nine were all injured.<ref name="BEA">{{cite web |title=Rapport de la commission d'enquête sur l'accident survenu le 20 janvier 1992 près du Mont Sainte-Odile (Bas Rhin) à l'Airbus A 320 immatriculé F-GGED exploité par la compagnie Air Inter |trans-title=Report of the commission of inquiry into the accident on 20 January 1992 near Mont Sainte-Odile (Bas Rhin) to the Airbus A 320 registered F-GGED operated by Air Inter |url=http://www.bea.aero/docspa/1992/f-ed920120/htm/f-ed920120.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120613020220/http://www.bea.aero/docspa/1992/f-ed920120/htm/f-ed920120.html |archive-date=13 June 2012 |access-date=14 April 2010 |publisher=[[Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety]] |language=fr}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ranter |first=Harro |title=ASN Aircraft accident Airbus A320-111 F-GGED Strasbourg-Entzheim Airport (SXB) |url=https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19920120-0 |url-status=live |access-date=2019-11-01 |website=aviation-safety.net |publisher=[[Aviation Safety Network]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050318021358/http://aviation-safety.net:80/database/record.php?id=19920120-0 |archive-date=18 March 2005 }}</ref>
'''Air Inter Flight 148''' (officially '''Flight 5148'''{{Efn|Although the IATA flight number is IT5148, this incident is informally and widely known as Flight 148}}) was a scheduled passenger flight from [[Lyon Satolas Airport|Lyon-Saint-Exupéry Airport]] (formerly known as Lyon Satolas Airport) to [[Strasbourg Airport]] in [[France]]. On 20 January 1992, the [[Airbus A320 family|Airbus A320]] operating the flight [[Controlled flight into terrain|crashed]] into the slopes of the [[Vosges Mountains]] in Eastern France, near [[Mont Sainte-Odile]], while on a non-precision approach at Strasbourg Airport. A total of 87 of the 96 people on board were killed, while the remaining 9 were all injured.<ref name="BEA">{{cite web |title=Rapport de la commission d'enquête sur l'accident survenu le 20 janvier 1992 près du Mont Sainte-Odile (Bas Rhin) à l'Airbus A 320 immatriculé F-GGED exploité par la compagnie Air Inter |trans-title=Report of the commission of inquiry into the accident on 20 January 1992 near Mont Sainte-Odile (Bas Rhin) to the Airbus A 320 registered F-GGED operated by Air Inter |url=http://www.bea.aero/docspa/1992/f-ed920120/htm/f-ed920120.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120613020220/http://www.bea.aero/docspa/1992/f-ed920120/htm/f-ed920120.html |archive-date=13 June 2012 |access-date=14 April 2010 |publisher=[[Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety]] |language=fr}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ranter |first=Harro |title=ASN Aircraft accident Airbus A320-111 F-GGED Strasbourg-Entzheim Airport (SXB) |url=https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19920120-0 |url-status=live |access-date=2019-11-01 |website=aviation-safety.net |publisher=[[Aviation Safety Network]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050318021358/http://aviation-safety.net:80/database/record.php?id=19920120-0 |archive-date=18 March 2005 }}</ref>


==Accident==
==Accident==
Flight 148, commanded by 42-year-old Captain Christian Hecquet, with 8,800 flight hours including 162 flight hours on A320, and 37-year-old First Officer Joël Cherubin, with 3,600 flight hours including 61 hours on A320.<ref name="Le Monde">{{cite news |url=http://www.lemonde.fr/cgi-bin/ACHATS/acheter.cgi?offre=ARCHIVES&type_item=ART_ARCH_30J&objet_id=943318 |title=Quatorze ans après, les causes de la catastrophe du mont Sainte-Odile restent incertaines |date=2 May 2006 |newspaper=[[Le Monde]] |access-date=14 April 2010 |language=fr |trans-title=Fourteen years later, the causes of the Mont Sainte-Odile disaster remain uncertain}}</ref> departed Lyon-Satolas (now called [[Lyon-Saint-Exupéry Airport]]) at 17:20 UTC. Both pilots were relatively new to the [[A320]] with a combined total of only 300 hours in the aircraft,<ref name="Report from Commission of Inquiry">{{Cite report|url=https://bea.aero/docspa/1992/f-ed920120/htm/f-ed920120.html |title=Report from Commission of Inquiry into accident of F-GGED |date=26 November 1993 |author=BEA |access-date=16 December 2022 |language=fr}}</ref> but both were familiar with Strasbourg Airport as both had flown into the airport many times.
Flight 148 was commanded by 42-year-old [[Pilot in command|Captain]] Christian Hecquet, with 8,800 flight hours including 162 flight hours on A320, and 37-year-old [[First officer (aviation)|First Officer]] Joël Cherubin, with 3,600 flight hours including 61 hours on A320.<ref name="Le Monde">{{cite news |url=http://www.lemonde.fr/cgi-bin/ACHATS/acheter.cgi?offre=ARCHIVES&type_item=ART_ARCH_30J&objet_id=943318 |title=Quatorze ans après, les causes de la catastrophe du mont Sainte-Odile restent incertaines |date=2 May 2006 |newspaper=[[Le Monde]] |access-date=14 April 2010 |language=fr |trans-title=Fourteen years later, the causes of the Mont Sainte-Odile disaster remain uncertain}}</ref> The aircraft left Lyon-Satolas (now called [[Lyon-Saint-Exupéry Airport]]) at 17:20 UTC. Both pilots were relatively new to the [[A320]], with a combined total of only 300 hours in the aircraft,<ref name="BEA" /> but they were familiar with Strasbourg Airport as both had flown into the airport many times.


As the flight neared Strasbourg Airport, they informed ATC of their desire to follow the [[Instrument Landing System|ILS]] approach for Runway 23 until the airport was in sight, followed by a visual approach onto Runway 05. This type of approach onto Runway 05 was common at Strasbourg Airport;<ref name="Report from Commission of Inquiry">{{Cite report|url=https://bea.aero/docspa/1992/f-ed920120/htm/f-ed920120.html |title=Report from Commission of Inquiry into accident of F-GGED |date=26 November 1993 |author=BEA |access-date=16 December 2022 |language=fr}}</ref> being in close proximity to mountains and high terrain, Runway 05 was not equipped with ILS since the high terrain would interfere with the glide slope signal transmitted by the ILS. ATC denied the pilots approach request, saying there would be a significant delay because of conflict with several aircraft departing on Runway 05 and instead offered vectors for the [[VHF omnidirectional range|VOR]]/[[Distance measuring equipment (aviation)|DME]] approach for Runway 05, which the pilots accepted. The flight was cleared to descend to 5,000ft and vectored to the ANDLO waypoint 11 nautical miles from the Strasbourg Airport [[VHF omnidirectional range|VOR]]. ATC cleared the aircraft onto the final approach at 18:19 UTC as it passed ANDLO, where the pilots turned left onto the runway heading of 050 degrees and continued to descend as per the approach chart.
As the flight neared Strasbourg Airport, they informed [[Air traffic control|ATC]] of their desire to follow the [[Instrument Landing System|ILS]] approach for Runway 23 until the airport was in sight, followed by a visual approach onto Runway 05. This type of approach onto Runway 05 was common at Strasbourg Airport;<ref name="BEA" /> Runway 05 was not equipped with ILS since the nearby mountains and high terrain would interfere with the [[Glide path|glide slope]] signal transmitted by the ILS. ATC denied the pilots approach request, saying there would be a significant delay because of conflict with several aircraft departing on Runway 05 and instead offered vectors for the [[VHF omnidirectional range|VOR]]/[[Distance measuring equipment (aviation)|DME]] approach for Runway 05, which the pilots accepted. The flight was cleared to descend to 5,000&nbsp;ft and vectored to the ANDLO waypoint 11 [[nautical mile]]s from the Strasbourg Airport [[VHF omnidirectional range|VOR]]. ATC cleared the aircraft onto the final approach at 18:19 UTC as it passed ANDLO, where the pilots turned left onto the runway heading of 050 degrees and continued to descend as per the approach chart.


At 18:20:33 UTC, Flight 148 crashed into the slopes of [[Mont Sainte-Odile]] at 2,620ft, 10.5 nautical miles from the airport. The search and rescue operation commenced at 18:40. 3 helicopters, 24 motorcycles and 950 people from the [[National Police (France)|Police Nationale]], [[National Gendarmerie]], [[Sécurité Civile]], as well as 24 amateur radio operators participated in the search and rescue operation.<ref name="Report from Commission of Inquiry">{{Cite report|url=https://bea.aero/docspa/1992/f-ed920120/htm/f-ed920120.html |title=Report from Commission of Inquiry into accident of F-GGED |date=26 November 1993 |author=BEA |access-date=16 December 2022 |language=fr}}</ref> Although almost 1000 people were involved in the search effort, it was criticised for being unprepared and disorganised as it was not clear which of the 3 agencies would lead the search, hampering the search and rescue effort. The crash site was not discovered until 22:35 UTC (4 hours and 15 minutes later) when a group of journalists were led to the wreckage by a surviving passenger. The first rescuers, a group of [[National Gendarmerie|Gendarmes]], arrived at 22:49 after being led to the wreckage by the same survivor and a journalist.
At 18:20:33 UTC, Flight 148 crashed into the slopes of [[Mont Sainte-Odile]] at 2,620&nbsp;ft, 10.5 nautical miles from the airport. The search and rescue operation commenced at 18:40. Three helicopters, 24 motorcycles, and 950 people from the [[National Police (France)|Police Nationale]], [[National Gendarmerie]], [[Sécurité Civile]], as well as 24 [[amateur radio]] operators, participated in the search and rescue operation.<ref name="BEA"/> Although almost 1,000 people were involved in the search effort, it was criticised for being unprepared and disorganised, as it was not clear which of the three agencies would lead the search for the crash site, hampering the search and rescue effort. The crash site was not discovered until 22:35 UTC (4 hours and 15 minutes later) when a group of journalists were led to the wreckage by a surviving passenger, Nicolas Skourias. The first rescuers, a group of [[National Gendarmerie|gendarmes]], arrived at 22:49 after being led to the wreckage by the same survivor and a journalist.


The [[Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety]] (BEA) found that Flight 148 crashed because the pilots left the autopilot set in Vertical Speed Mode instead of Flight Path Angle Mode and then set "33" for "3.3° descent angle", resulting in a high descent rate of {{cvt|3300|ft}} per minute into terrain.<ref name="BEA"/>
The [[Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety]] (BEA) found that Flight 148 crashed because the pilots left the [[autopilot]] set in Vertical Speed Mode instead of Flight Path Angle Mode and then set "33" for "3.3° descent angle", resulting in a high descent rate of {{cvt|3300|ft}} per minute into terrain.<ref name="BEA"/>


The pilots had no warning of the imminent impact because [[Air Inter]] had not equipped its aircraft with a [[ground proximity warning system]] (GPWS). It is speculated that this was because Air Inter—facing ferocious competition from France's [[TGV]] high-speed trains—may have encouraged its pilots to fly fast at low level (up to {{cvt|350|kn|km/h mph|disp=sqbr}} below {{cvt|10000|ft|disp=sqbr}}, while other airlines generally do not exceed {{cvt|250|kn|km/h mph|disp=sqbr}}), and GPWS systems gave too many nuisance warnings.<ref name="TheFinalBlow">{{Cite episode |title=The Final Blow |series=[[Mayday (Canadian TV series)|Mayday]] |network=[[Discovery Channel Canada]] / [[National Geographic Channel]] |season=9 |year=2010}}</ref>
The pilots had no warning of the imminent impact because [[Air Inter]] had not equipped its aircraft with a [[ground proximity warning system]] (GPWS). It is speculated that this was because Air Inter—facing ferocious competition from France's [[TGV]] high-speed trains—may have encouraged its pilots to fly fast at low level (up to {{cvt|350|kn|km/h mph|disp=sqbr}} below {{cvt|10000|ft|disp=sqbr}}, while other airlines generally do not exceed {{cvt|250|kn|km/h mph|disp=sqbr}}), and GPWS systems gave too many nuisance warnings.<ref name="TheFinalBlow">{{Cite episode |title=The Final Blow |series=[[Mayday (Canadian TV series)|Mayday]] |network=[[Discovery Channel Canada]] / [[National Geographic Channel]] |season=9 |year=2010}}</ref>


==Aircraft==
==Aircraft==
The aircraft, an [[Airbus A320 family|Airbus A320-111]], registration F-GGED, serial number 15, first flew on 4 November 1988, and was delivered to [[Air Inter]] on 22 December 1988. At the time of the accident, the aircraft had accumulated a total of 6,316 airframe hours.<ref>{{Cite web |date=26 November 1993 |title=OFFICIAL REPORT into the accident on 20 January 1992 near Mont Sainte-Odile (Bas-Rhin) of the AIRBUS A320 registered F-GGED operated by Air Inter [English translation] |url=https://reports.aviation-safety.net/1992/19920120-0_A320_F-GGED.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=2019-07-01 |website= |publisher=[[Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety]] |via=Aviation Safety Network|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180922024418/https://reports.aviation-safety.net/1992/19920120-0_A320_F-GGED.pdf |archive-date=22 September 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.airfleets.net/ficheapp/plane-a320-15.htm |title=Air Inter F-GGED (Airbus A320 - MSN 15) {{!}} Airfleets aviation|website=www.airfleets.net |access-date=2019-07-02}}</ref>
The aircraft involved, manufactured in 1988, was an [[Airbus A320 family|Airbus A320-111]] registered as F-GGED with [[serial number]] 015. At the time of the accident, the aircraft had accumulated a total of 6,316 airframe hours and 7,194 takeoff and landing cycles.<ref>{{Cite web |date=26 November 1993 |title=OFFICIAL REPORT into the accident on 20 January 1992 near Mont Sainte-Odile (Bas-Rhin) of the AIRBUS A320 registered F-GGED operated by Air Inter [English translation] |url=https://reports.aviation-safety.net/1992/19920120-0_A320_F-GGED.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=2019-07-01 |website= |publisher=[[Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety]] |via=Aviation Safety Network|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180922024418/https://reports.aviation-safety.net/1992/19920120-0_A320_F-GGED.pdf |archive-date=22 September 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Accident Airbus A320-111 F-GGED, Monday 20 January 1992 |url=https://asn.flightsafety.org/asndb/325614 |access-date=2024-08-01 |website=asn.flightsafety.org}}</ref>


==Aftermath==
==Aftermath==
[[File:Site crash Mont Sainte-Odile 1992.jpg|thumb|The crash site of Flight 148 with a memorial plaque]]
[[File:Site crash Mont Sainte-Odile 1992.jpg|thumb|The crash site of Flight 148 with a memorial plaque]]
Accident investigators recommended 35 changes in their report. Airbus modified the interface of the autopilot so that a vertical speed setting would be displayed as a four-digit number, preventing confusion with the Flight Path Angle mode.<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/35913 |title=DSpace@MIT: Experimental Study of Vertical Flight Path Mode Awareness |last1=Johnson |first1=Eric N. |last2=Pritchett |first2=Amy R. |date=March 1995 |website=Dspace.mit.edu |publisher=Massachusetts Institute of Technology |hdl=1721.1/35913 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120521172730/http://web.mit.edu/aeroastro/www/labs/ASL/MODE_AWARENESS/mode_awareness.html |archive-date=21 May 2012 |access-date=8 February 2014}}</ref> The [[flight data recorder]] was upgraded so that it was able to withstand higher temperatures and for longer.<ref name="BEA"/><ref name="TheFinalBlow"/> The report also recommended that pilot training for the A320 should be enhanced and that ground proximity warning systems should be installed on them. Air Inter equipped its aircraft with ground proximity warning systems before the investigation was completed.<ref name="BEA"/><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/air-france-ceo-jean-cyril-spinetta-defends-rejection-of-gpws-equipment-on-air-inter-a320-fleet-despite-fatal-1992-st-odile-mountainside-crash-210280/ |title=Air France CEO Jean-Cyril Spinetta defends rejection of GPWS equipment on Air Inter A320 fleet, despite fatal 1992 St Odile mountainside crash |last=Turner |first=Aimée |date=2006-10-31 |website=Flightglobal.com |publisher=[[Flight International]] |access-date=2019-11-01}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/video-january-1992-air-inter-mt-saint-odile-crash-manslaughter-verdict-expected-7-november-in-colmar-210218/ |title=Video: January 1992 Air Inter Mt Saint Odile crash manslaughter verdict expected 7 November in Colmar |last=Wastnage |first=Justin |date=2006-10-25 |website=Flightglobal.com |publisher=Flight International |access-date=2019-11-01}}</ref>
Accident investigators recommended 35 changes in their report. Airbus modified the interface of the autopilot so that a vertical speed setting would be displayed as a four-digit number, preventing confusion with the Flight Path Angle mode.<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/35913 |title=DSpace@MIT: Experimental Study of Vertical Flight Path Mode Awareness |last1=Johnson |first1=Eric N. |last2=Pritchett |first2=Amy R.|author2-link=Amy Pritchett |date=March 1995 |website=Dspace.mit.edu |publisher=Massachusetts Institute of Technology |hdl=1721.1/35913 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120521172730/http://web.mit.edu/aeroastro/www/labs/ASL/MODE_AWARENESS/mode_awareness.html |archive-date=21 May 2012 |access-date=8 February 2014}}</ref> The [[flight data recorder]] was upgraded so that it was able to withstand higher temperatures and for longer.<ref name="BEA"/><ref name="TheFinalBlow"/> The report also recommended that pilot training for the A320 should be enhanced and that ground proximity warning systems should be installed on them. Air Inter equipped its aircraft with ground proximity warning systems before the investigation was completed.<ref name="BEA"/><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/air-france-ceo-jean-cyril-spinetta-defends-rejection-of-gpws-equipment-on-air-inter-a320-fleet-despite-fatal-1992-st-odile-mountainside-crash-210280/ |title=Air France CEO Jean-Cyril Spinetta defends rejection of GPWS equipment on Air Inter A320 fleet, despite fatal 1992 St Odile mountainside crash |last=Turner |first=Aimée |date=2006-10-31 |website=Flightglobal.com |publisher=[[Flight International]] |access-date=2019-11-01}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/video-january-1992-air-inter-mt-saint-odile-crash-manslaughter-verdict-expected-7-november-in-colmar-210218/ |title=Video: January 1992 Air Inter Mt Saint Odile crash manslaughter verdict expected 7 November in Colmar |last=Wastnage |first=Justin |date=2006-10-25 |website=Flightglobal.com |publisher=Flight International |access-date=2019-11-01}}</ref>


==Dramatization==
==Dramatization==
The story of the disaster was featured on the ninth season of [[Cineflix]] television show ''[[Mayday (Canadian TV series)|Mayday]]'' in the episode entitled "The Final Blow" (also known as ''Air Crash Investigation'' as episode entitled "Crashed and Missing" or "Doomed to Fail" (S09E07)).<ref name="TheFinalBlow"/>
The story of the disaster was featured on the ninth season of [[Cineflix]] television show ''[[Mayday (Canadian TV series)|Mayday]]'' in the episode entitled "The Final Blow" (also known as ''Air Crash Investigation'' as episode entitled "Crashed and Missing" or "Doomed to Fail" (S09E07)).<ref name="TheFinalBlow"/>


It is featured in season 2, episode 5, of the TV show ''[[Why Planes Crash]]'', in an episode called "Sudden Impact".
It is featured in season 2, episode 5, of the TV show ''[[Why Planes Crash]]'', in an episode called "Sudden Impact".{{Citation needed|date=April 2024}}
<!--
<!--
| SEE ALSO SECTION
| SEE ALSO SECTION
Line 60: Line 59:
|
|
-->
-->

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}
Line 72: Line 75:
*{{YouTube|title=CVR recording|id=oHgE7SvxfCQ}}
*{{YouTube|title=CVR recording|id=oHgE7SvxfCQ}}


{{Aviation accidents and incidents in France}}
{{Aviation accidents and incidents in France between 1950 and 1999}}
{{Aviation incidents and accidents in 1992}}
{{Aviation incidents and accidents in 1992}}
{{Portal bar|Aviation|France}}
{{Portal bar|Aviation|France}}

Latest revision as of 10:06, 21 December 2024

Air Inter Flight 148
F-GGED, the aircraft involved in the accident, seen in January 1991
Accident
Date20 January 1992 (1992-01-20)
SummaryControlled flight into terrain due to ATC error and pilot error; poor training and safety standards
SiteMont Sainte-Odile, west of Barr, 10.5nm S/W of Strasbourg Airport, Strasbourg, France[1]
48°25′31″N 007°24′18″E / 48.42528°N 7.40500°E / 48.42528; 7.40500
Aircraft
Aircraft typeAirbus A320-111
OperatorAir Inter
IATA flight No.IT5148
ICAO flight No.ITF148DA
Call signAIR INTER 148 DELTA ALPHA[1]
RegistrationF-GGED
Flight originLyon Satolas Airport, Lyon, France
DestinationStrasbourg Airport, Strasbourg, France
Occupants96
Passengers90
Crew6
Fatalities87
Injuries9
Survivors9
Air Inter Flight 148 wreckage

Air Inter Flight 148 (officially Flight 5148[a]) was a scheduled passenger flight from Lyon-Saint-Exupéry Airport (formerly known as Lyon Satolas Airport) to Strasbourg Airport in France. On 20 January 1992, the Airbus A320 operating the flight crashed into the slopes of the Vosges Mountains in Eastern France, near Mont Sainte-Odile, while on a non-precision approach at Strasbourg Airport. A total of 87 of the 96 people on board were killed, while the remaining 9 were all injured.[1][2]

Accident

[edit]

Flight 148 was commanded by 42-year-old Captain Christian Hecquet, with 8,800 flight hours including 162 flight hours on A320, and 37-year-old First Officer Joël Cherubin, with 3,600 flight hours including 61 hours on A320.[3] The aircraft left Lyon-Satolas (now called Lyon-Saint-Exupéry Airport) at 17:20 UTC. Both pilots were relatively new to the A320, with a combined total of only 300 hours in the aircraft,[1] but they were familiar with Strasbourg Airport as both had flown into the airport many times.

As the flight neared Strasbourg Airport, they informed ATC of their desire to follow the ILS approach for Runway 23 until the airport was in sight, followed by a visual approach onto Runway 05. This type of approach onto Runway 05 was common at Strasbourg Airport;[1] Runway 05 was not equipped with ILS since the nearby mountains and high terrain would interfere with the glide slope signal transmitted by the ILS. ATC denied the pilots approach request, saying there would be a significant delay because of conflict with several aircraft departing on Runway 05 and instead offered vectors for the VOR/DME approach for Runway 05, which the pilots accepted. The flight was cleared to descend to 5,000 ft and vectored to the ANDLO waypoint 11 nautical miles from the Strasbourg Airport VOR. ATC cleared the aircraft onto the final approach at 18:19 UTC as it passed ANDLO, where the pilots turned left onto the runway heading of 050 degrees and continued to descend as per the approach chart.

At 18:20:33 UTC, Flight 148 crashed into the slopes of Mont Sainte-Odile at 2,620 ft, 10.5 nautical miles from the airport. The search and rescue operation commenced at 18:40. Three helicopters, 24 motorcycles, and 950 people from the Police Nationale, National Gendarmerie, Sécurité Civile, as well as 24 amateur radio operators, participated in the search and rescue operation.[1] Although almost 1,000 people were involved in the search effort, it was criticised for being unprepared and disorganised, as it was not clear which of the three agencies would lead the search for the crash site, hampering the search and rescue effort. The crash site was not discovered until 22:35 UTC (4 hours and 15 minutes later) when a group of journalists were led to the wreckage by a surviving passenger, Nicolas Skourias. The first rescuers, a group of gendarmes, arrived at 22:49 after being led to the wreckage by the same survivor and a journalist.

The Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety (BEA) found that Flight 148 crashed because the pilots left the autopilot set in Vertical Speed Mode instead of Flight Path Angle Mode and then set "33" for "3.3° descent angle", resulting in a high descent rate of 3,300 ft (1,000 m) per minute into terrain.[1]

The pilots had no warning of the imminent impact because Air Inter had not equipped its aircraft with a ground proximity warning system (GPWS). It is speculated that this was because Air Inter—facing ferocious competition from France's TGV high-speed trains—may have encouraged its pilots to fly fast at low level (up to 350 kn [650 km/h; 400 mph] below 10,000 ft [3,000 m], while other airlines generally do not exceed 250 kn [460 km/h; 290 mph]), and GPWS systems gave too many nuisance warnings.[4]

Aircraft

[edit]

The aircraft involved, manufactured in 1988, was an Airbus A320-111 registered as F-GGED with serial number 015. At the time of the accident, the aircraft had accumulated a total of 6,316 airframe hours and 7,194 takeoff and landing cycles.[5][6]

Aftermath

[edit]
The crash site of Flight 148 with a memorial plaque

Accident investigators recommended 35 changes in their report. Airbus modified the interface of the autopilot so that a vertical speed setting would be displayed as a four-digit number, preventing confusion with the Flight Path Angle mode.[7] The flight data recorder was upgraded so that it was able to withstand higher temperatures and for longer.[1][4] The report also recommended that pilot training for the A320 should be enhanced and that ground proximity warning systems should be installed on them. Air Inter equipped its aircraft with ground proximity warning systems before the investigation was completed.[1][8][9]

Dramatization

[edit]

The story of the disaster was featured on the ninth season of Cineflix television show Mayday in the episode entitled "The Final Blow" (also known as Air Crash Investigation as episode entitled "Crashed and Missing" or "Doomed to Fail" (S09E07)).[4]

It is featured in season 2, episode 5, of the TV show Why Planes Crash, in an episode called "Sudden Impact".[citation needed]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Although the IATA flight number is IT5148, this incident is informally and widely known as Flight 148

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Rapport de la commission d'enquête sur l'accident survenu le 20 janvier 1992 près du Mont Sainte-Odile (Bas Rhin) à l'Airbus A 320 immatriculé F-GGED exploité par la compagnie Air Inter" [Report of the commission of inquiry into the accident on 20 January 1992 near Mont Sainte-Odile (Bas Rhin) to the Airbus A 320 registered F-GGED operated by Air Inter] (in French). Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety. Archived from the original on 13 June 2012. Retrieved 14 April 2010.
  2. ^ Ranter, Harro. "ASN Aircraft accident Airbus A320-111 F-GGED Strasbourg-Entzheim Airport (SXB)". aviation-safety.net. Aviation Safety Network. Archived from the original on 18 March 2005. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
  3. ^ "Quatorze ans après, les causes de la catastrophe du mont Sainte-Odile restent incertaines" [Fourteen years later, the causes of the Mont Sainte-Odile disaster remain uncertain]. Le Monde (in French). 2 May 2006. Retrieved 14 April 2010.
  4. ^ a b c "The Final Blow". Mayday. Season 9. 2010. Discovery Channel Canada / National Geographic Channel.
  5. ^ "OFFICIAL REPORT into the accident on 20 January 1992 near Mont Sainte-Odile (Bas-Rhin) of the AIRBUS A320 registered F-GGED operated by Air Inter [English translation]" (PDF). Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety. 26 November 1993. Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 September 2018. Retrieved 1 July 2019 – via Aviation Safety Network.
  6. ^ "Accident Airbus A320-111 F-GGED, Monday 20 January 1992". asn.flightsafety.org. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  7. ^ Johnson, Eric N.; Pritchett, Amy R. (March 1995). "DSpace@MIT: Experimental Study of Vertical Flight Path Mode Awareness". Dspace.mit.edu. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. hdl:1721.1/35913. Archived from the original on 21 May 2012. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
  8. ^ Turner, Aimée (31 October 2006). "Air France CEO Jean-Cyril Spinetta defends rejection of GPWS equipment on Air Inter A320 fleet, despite fatal 1992 St Odile mountainside crash". Flightglobal.com. Flight International. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
  9. ^ Wastnage, Justin (25 October 2006). "Video: January 1992 Air Inter Mt Saint Odile crash manslaughter verdict expected 7 November in Colmar". Flightglobal.com. Flight International. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Air Inter Flight 148.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Air_Inter_Flight_148&oldid=1264286240"