737 crash in Columbia

..................astounding.
I don't even see the engines.
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Aircraft landed 260 feet short of the runway, lost its gear, and slid the full length of the runway - 7,400 feet - ending up in three pieces.

I can't imagine the sound it made, but it would have been total darkness with sparks flying everywhere. No fire, no explosion.
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This crash had to be unbelievably violent, amazing luck for those on board, with the exception of the one fatal, and five serious.

Earlier this year, the Tesla Motors crash in East Palo Alto that killed 3 employees in a Cessna 310 crash (google N5225J), was caught on the 'Gun Spotter System' the tape is only 11 seconds, not for the faint of heart to listen too.

For some reason FerrariChat will not allow me to post a direct link???, so go here; http://soundcloud.com/user1778859/eastpaloaltoplanecrash

Then in the search box (top right) enter; East Palo Alto Plane Crash, and select 'tracks' 3 recordings will appear, the first one, 11 seconds captures C310 crash.


Now imagine this B737 - lost its gear, broke up, while sliding 1.3 miles, in pitch darkness, with sparks flying everywhere.

Very, very fortunate passengers and crew . . .

 

My guess? Wind shear, or a microburst, to be precise.

Second choice? Lightning not necessarily striking the aircraft, but perhaps startling (or momentarily blinding) the pilot just before the flare.

But I'd doubt that lightning caused the accident directly.

 

You can see the interior clearer in this shot, can you imagine strapped in these seats!!!
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Look at the angle ofdamage on the nose. That airplane hit hard and steep.

 

Looking at the break in the fuselage over the wing center section , it appears to be a compression failure together with some subsequent bending. I have never seen a fuselage break up into so many pieces without collapsing. It appears that the airplane could have impacted near the threshold and jack-rabbited down the runway and cartwheeled from the looks of the wing damage. But what the hell do I know. It will be interesting to read the report. Lightning can and does strike airplanes and can bring them down.

 

I have to go with you on that the way the gear was broken off at the end of the runway and the engines were removed early in the incident.

 

I agree, the sudden drop is likely due to a microburst.

But wow! are these people lucky!!