Aircraft Accident Analysis

Donald McKerrow

AVXC 3600X2

Accident Analysis #6

Synopsis of Accident:

On August 10th of 1994, Korean Air Flight 2033 overran the runway 6 in Cheju, South Korea. There were 160 passengers on board, yet no fatalities despite a fire that consumed the aircraft. The aircraft involved in this incident was an Airbus A300 which started service in 1991. The aircraft was flying near a tropical storm, amidst thunderstorms, and surface winds were reporting gusting around 30 knots. During the approach the First Officer repeatedly asked the Captain about the runway length and at the last second wanted to go around. The Captain, Barry Woods from Canada, disagreed with the First Officer Chung Chan Kuy’s decision to go around and told him to ‘get off’ the throttles as he tried to complete the landing. The A300 slid of the end of the runway and a fire ensued. All crew members and passengers escaped.

Questions:

1.) How did the First Officer incorrectly challenge the Captains decision and authority to jeopardize the flight?

First Officer Chung Chan Kuy was the non flying pilot of Korean Air Flight 2033. He called out appropriate altitudes and was correct in first calling for a go-around but never should have questioned the Captain’s decision at such a critical flight time. Although decision-making in the cockpit should be a team task, the responsibility for safety of flight ultimately is placed on the Captains shoulder. With this responsibility comes ultimate authority. The First Officer has every right to question the decision of the Captain but should never disobey a direct order such as ‘no we are going to land.’

2.) Were there cultural problems that influenced the respect of the First Officer toward the Captain?

There is nothing in my research that indicates there were cultural problems in the cockpit of Korean Air Flight 2033. If anything, research shows that a cultural difference would not have made the Korean First Officer challenge the...