6/2: Floating jet

Undertoad · 06-02-2001, 09:48 AM

The story goes:

In northwestern Tanzania at the lower end of Lake Victoria is Mwanza, a small port city, with a long but narrow runway. A few years back a DC-8 crashed trying to land there and the remains are scattered in various places around the airport. But that's another story.

At about 2000 local time (i.e., at night), an Arabian registered B707 cargo aircraft was landing to pick up a load of fish. On the first approach the airport lost power and all its lights (a routine experience there), so the pilot had to go-around until the back-up generators got the lights on.

On the second approach he was much too far to the right & almost took out the small terminal and control tower. Missed approach number two. On the third approach (from over the lake with no visual reference) the control tower called him to say, "you are too low, pull up," to which the Captain replied, "don't worry, I know what I am doing."

About five kilometers short of the runway, he hit the water, tore off all four engines and the landing gear, but didn't puncture the fuselage. With battery power & the taxi light on, they were picked up by a fishing boat (no injuries).

The following day, it was still afloat, so a tug towed it to shallow water near the airport, where it will probably be a beacon for many years. Maybe the pilot misunderstood where he was supposed to pick up a load of fish?

See seven more excellent images of the floating beast, it really is quite amazing to look at:

http://www.avweb.com/articles/707swim/

jaguar · 06-02-2001, 06:21 PM

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
THis reminds me of Garuda (Indonesian Airlines) who i was unlucky enough to fly with last year, about 2/3 of the way though the trip, we recieve an intercom message that there has been a 'minor engine problem' and that we will be making a 'new stopover'.

The engine was on fire, we emergency-landed in the Phillipines with flames/smoke streaming out the back of it!!!

Chewbaccus · 06-02-2001, 10:24 PM

...I really need to stay the hell away from Australasia.

~Mike

06-02-2001, 06:21 PM	#2
jaguar whig Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 5,075	HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA THis reminds me of Garuda (Indonesian Airlines) who i was unlucky enough to fly with last year, about 2/3 of the way though the trip, we recieve an intercom message that there has been a 'minor engine problem' and that we will be making a 'new stopover'. The engine was on fire, we emergency-landed in the Phillipines with flames/smoke streaming out the back of it!!! __________________ Good friends, good books and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life. - Twain

06-02-2001, 10:24 PM	#3
Chewbaccus Freethinker/booter Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 523	...I really need to stay the hell away from Australasia. ~Mike __________________ Like the wise man said: Of course, that's just my opinion. I could be wrong.

06-02-2001, 09:48 AM	#1
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	The story goes: In northwestern Tanzania at the lower end of Lake Victoria is Mwanza, a small port city, with a long but narrow runway. A few years back a DC-8 crashed trying to land there and the remains are scattered in various places around the airport. But that's another story. At about 2000 local time (i.e., at night), an Arabian registered B707 cargo aircraft was landing to pick up a load of fish. On the first approach the airport lost power and all its lights (a routine experience there), so the pilot had to go-around until the back-up generators got the lights on. On the second approach he was much too far to the right & almost took out the small terminal and control tower. Missed approach number two. On the third approach (from over the lake with no visual reference) the control tower called him to say, "you are too low, pull up," to which the Captain replied, "don't worry, I know what I am doing." About five kilometers short of the runway, he hit the water, tore off all four engines and the landing gear, but didn't puncture the fuselage. With battery power & the taxi light on, they were picked up by a fishing boat (no injuries). The following day, it was still afloat, so a tug towed it to shallow water near the airport, where it will probably be a beacon for many years. Maybe the pilot misunderstood where he was supposed to pick up a load of fish? See seven more excellent images of the floating beast, it really is quite amazing to look at: http://www.avweb.com/articles/707swim/

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