GENERAL INFORMATION

Data Source NTSB_SAFETY RECOMMENDATIONS
Recommendation Number A-00-018
Letter Date(DD-MON-YY) 23-JAN-02
Status CAA: CLOSED ACCEPTABLE ACTION

NARRATIVE

[O] On August 6, 1997, about 0142:26 Guam local time, Korean Air flight 801, a Boeing 747-3B5B (747-300), Korean registration HL7468, operated by Korean Air Company, Ltd., crashed at Nimitz Hill, Guam. Flight 801 departed from Kimpo International Airport, Seoul, Korea, with 2 pilots, 1 flight engineer, 14 flight attendants, and 237 passengers on board. The airplane had been cleared to land on runway 6L at A.B. Won Guam International Airport, Agana, Guam, and crashed into high terrain about 3 miles southwest of the airport. Of the 254 persons on board, 228 were killed, and 23 passengers and 3 flight attendants survived the accident with serious injuries. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and a postcrash fire. Flight 801 was operating in U.S. airspace as a regularly scheduled international passenger service flight under the Convention of International Civil Aviation and the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 129 and was on an instrument flight rules flight plan. [Recommendations] A-00-18. Consider the accident and incident history of foreign air carriers as a factor when evaluating the adequacy of a foreign civil aviation authority's oversight and whether a reassessment may be warranted. [Responses] FAA LTR DTD: 4/4/00 The FAA continues to find ways to improve the International Aviation Safety Assessment Program (IASA). As part of this process, the FAA is considering reviewing each country's compliance with applicable International Civil Aviation Organization standards at least every 24 months by the responsible Flight Standards International Field Office (IFO). The review of any accidents within the 24-month period would be one of the considerations. In addition, the IFO monitors the compliance with international standards on an ongoing basis and this could alert to the need for a country's reassessment, given indications of lack of safety oversight. I will keep the Board informed of the FAA's progress on this safety recommendation. NTSB LTR DTD: 6/27/00 The FAA reports that as part of its activities to improve the International Aviation Safety Assessment Program (IASA), it is considering reviewing each country's compliance with applicable International Civil Aviation Organization standards at least every 24 months by the responsible Flight Standards International Field Office (IFO). The FAA reports that consideration of any accidents that occurred within the 24-month period preceding the review would be included in the review. In addition, the FAA reports that the IFO monitors the compliance with international standards on an ongoing basis and that this could determine whether a country needs reassessment. Pending further developments in the IASA, Safety Recommendation A-00-18 is classified "Open Acceptable Response." FAA LTR DTD: 8/21/01 The FAA has validated each country's category under the International Aviation Safety Assessment Program and is resolving issues regarding current levels of safety oversight. The FAA's Flight Standards International Field Offices will continue to review each country's compliance with applicable ICAO standards at least every 24 months. The review will include any accident/incident history within the 24-month period. I believe that the FAA has addressed the full intent of this safety recommendation, and I consider the FAA's action to be completed. NTSB LTR DTD: 1/23/02 The FAA reports that it has validated each country's category under the International Aviation Safety Assessment Program and is resolving issues regarding current levels of safety oversight. The FAA states that its Flight Standards International Field Offices will continue to review each country's compliance with applicable ICAO standards at least every 24 months and that the review will include any accident/incident history within the 24-month period. The FAA has taken the actions called for in Safety Recommendation A-00-18, which is now classified "Closed Acceptable Action. 2


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