In 1998, Continental Airlines Flight 475, a Boeing 737-500, experienced a runway excursion after the crew’s second landing attempt at Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla Guadalajara International Airport in Mexico.
The crew’s first approach was unstable due to a last-minute runway change from opposite end to straight-in, causing a higher-than-normal rate of descent.
While on a 6-nm (11 km) final, the airport air traffic control tower passed along to Flight 475 McDonnell Douglas DC-9’s report of wind shear of plus or minus 10 kt. A preceding MD-80 reported severe wind shear on landing, but the report was in Spanish and not understood by the crew.
The tower asked if Flight 475 “preferred to go missed approach.” The crew continued for 30 seconds and then initiated a missed approach. (The crew assumed the air traffic control (ATC) inquiry was due to an unstable approach; ATC assumed the crew was avoiding t…
