National Airlines Flight 102
National Airlines Flight 102 crashed at Bagram in 2013. Read how inadequately restrained cargo damaged the 747 freighter's flight controls.
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On 29 April 2013, National Airlines Flight 102 crashed immediately after takeoff from Bagram, Afghanistan, on a cargo flight to Dubai. The Boeing 747-400BCF, N949CA, climbed steeply, stalled and struck the ground. All seven crew members died.
What happened
The aircraft carried five heavy military vehicles: two M-ATVs and three Cougars. Investigators found that at least the rearmost M-ATV broke free of its restraints and moved aft during takeoff.
The vehicle penetrated the aft pressure bulkhead and damaged hydraulic systems 1 and 2 and components of the horizontal stabilizer drive mechanism. This left the aircraft uncontrollable. The findings go beyond the simplified explanation that a cargo shift merely moved the centre of gravity.
Investigation findings
The NTSB identified inadequate National Airlines procedures for restraining special cargo as the probable cause. Those procedures lacked required restraint information and included unsafe methods. The resulting cargo restraint was improper.
The FAA's inadequate oversight of the airline's special-cargo operations contributed to the accident. The investigation led to recommendations addressing cargo restraint guidance, training and oversight.
Aircraft and crew
A 747-400BCF is a passenger 747 converted to a freighter. The seven people aboard included the flight crew, an augmented crew, a loadmaster and two mechanics.
Related
Sources
Facts on this page are checked against the primary and institutional references below.
- National Airlines Flight 102 accident report AAR-15/01 - National Transportation Safety Board
- National Airlines Flight 102: lessons learned - Federal Aviation Administration
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