Korean Air Cargo Flight 6316

Korean Air Cargo Flight 6316 was a scheduled Korean Air Cargo freight flight from Shanghai to Seoul. On 15 April 1999, the McDonnell Douglas MD-11F operating the route, registered as HL7373, crashed in Xinzhuang, Shanghai shortly after taking off from Hongqiao Airport, killing all 3 crew on board, along with 5 on the ground.

Accident

Loaded with 86 tons of cargo, the MD-11F operating Flight 6316 took off from Shanghai Hongqiao Airport at around 4:00 pm. The flight crew consisted of Captain Hong Sung-sil, First Officer Park Bon-suk, and flight engineer Park Byong-ki . After taking off, the MD-11F received clearance to climb to after the first officer contacted Shanghai Departure.
As the aircraft climbed to, the first officer told the captain that the required altitude should be, thinking that the aircraft was too high. The captain pushed the control column abruptly forward, causing the aircraft to descend at over. At 4:04 pm, the aircraft became uncontrollable due to the steep dive and eventually crashed into an industrial zone in Xinzhuang, which is southwest of Hongqiao Airport. The aircraft impacted the ground and exploded. Along with the 3 South Korean crew on board, 2 pupils and 3 migrant workers on the ground also perished. The crash was recorded by the nearby Shanghai Earthquake Administration which indicated that the impact forces had generated an equivalent of a 1.6 magnitude earthquake.

Aircraft

The aircraft involved was a McDonnell Douglas MD-11 freighter with the registration HL7373 and serial number 48409, powered by three Pratt & Whitney PW4460 engines. Built-in February 1992, this aircraft was delivered to Korean Air on March 24, 1992, as a passenger aircraft. In 1996, the aircraft was converted to a freighter.

Investigation

On April 27, 1999, the primary investigation revealed no evidence of an explosion or mechanical failure before the impact. In June 2001, further investigation carried out by CAAC showed that the first officer had confused, the required altitude, with, prompting the captain to make the wrong decision to descend. The captain's response was an abrupt overreaction on the flight controls, resulting in a rapid descent which was unrecoverable.
In South Korea, all aviation altitudes are measured in feet in compliance with the ICAO convention.
In Russia, China and parts of Central Asia, level flight above the transition altitude is accomplished at the assigned flight level with reference to, and clearances given in, feet. However, altitudes below the transition level are assigned in metres. Aircraft can fly at the assigned altitude using an altimeter that indicates in metres or, if fitted with altimeters that read in feet, by conversion of the assigned altitude/level.