Boeing 737-200 crash, Mar 4, 1999, Biarritz
Boeing 737-200 accident on March 4, 1999 near Biarritz, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, France with no fatalities. Cause: The pilot flying was surprised by wind...
- Date: March 4, 1999
- Aircraft: Boeing 737-200
- Location: Biarritz, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, France
- Fatalities: 0
- Phase of flight: Approach and landing
- Cause: The pilot flying was surprised by wind rotation close to the ground and did not correct the crosswind in the flare. Poor crew communication and the sloped runway limiting visibility also contributed to the runway excursion.
Air France flight 7638 from Paris to Biarritz landed in gusty crosswinds and heavy rain. The aircraft drifted left of the centreline, touched down on the left main gear, and left the runway on the left at about 133 knots. Its nose gear struck a light support and it stopped about 1,150 metres from the threshold. All occupants survived.