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Before you check out the photos, you need some context. Please read the narrative of the events that led up to this Boeing 707 cargo plane winding up just a tad short of the runway:
In north-western Tanzania at the lower end of Lake Victoria is Mwanza, a small port city, with a long but narrow runway. At about 2000 Hrs., (8PM local) an Arabian registered B707 cargo aircraft was landing to pick up a
load of fish. On the first approach the airport lost power & lost all its lights (a routine experience here), so
the pilot had to go-around until the back-up generators got the lights on. Missed approach #1.
On the second approach he was much too far to the right & almost took out the small terminal and control tower. Missed approach #2.
On his third and final stab (approaching from over the lake) the control tower transmited: "You're are too low, pull up!" to which the Captain replied, "Don't worry, I know what I am doing". [insert foreboding music here...]
About 5 KM short of the runway, he hit the water, tore off all four engines and 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, the plane was still afloat, so a tug towed it to shallow water near the airport, where it will probably be a beacon for many years.
"Uhh, Tower, disregard my last...
seems we've landed a tad short afterall."
Editor's note: An okay 3-wire to my friend Paul Pompier for vectoring this one to me. Paul is the source for some of my best material. I'm trying to convince him that he's so funny, he ought to be writing his own books.
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