The Instrument Landing System (ILS) for both Runways 28L and 28R is NOTAMed inoperative. It is likely the Asian attempted to use the (inop) ILS and hit well short of the intended touchdown point. A very similar cause to the crash of Korean Air B-747 in Guam several years ago.
My sister is listening to KFI in LA, where a caller claiming to be a commercial pilot said ILS is turned off as a cost-savings due to the sequester. Anything to this?
“. It is likely the Asian attempted to use the (inop) ILS and hit well short of the intended touchdown point.”
It is unlikely, not likely. Too much communications about approach for that to happen.
Pilots could have “built” their own glide slope, using the capabilities of the B777 FMC. ILS OTS meant that all pilots were basically flying “non-precision approaches” or, the “dreaded visual approach”. Could be a big factor, their reliance on technology and their inability to go back to basics.
You would think that ATC would not bring them in to that runway if the ILS was not working. Of course, they may have gone for a visual approach and landing...