Air Peace 737 landed off side of runway during rain

Nigerian investigators have disclosed that an Air Peace Boeing 737-500 touched down partially off the side of the runway at Port Harcourt, after landing long in poor weather conditions.

Preliminary information from the Accident Investigation Bureau states that the aircraft (5N-BRN) was conducting an ILS approach to runway 21 on 22 June.

Some 8min before the landing the crew had inquired about the rain situation, to which approach control replied: “Negative rain overhead the station.”

After the flight was transferred to the tower controller, the crew was told to exercise caution because there was rain on the approach path, and the runway surface was wet.

Wind conditions would have generated a small tailwind component.

Cockpit-voice recorder information revealed continuous windscreen wiper movement and the crew told the inquiry that, after landing clearance was given, the aircraft entered a region of drizzle. But the runway markings and lights remained visible, the crew said, and the ILS was functional.

The pilots said that, after touchdown, increased rain intensity and strong winds combined with reduced visibility caused them to “experience loss of directional control”, and the jet skidded “uncontrollably” to the left of the centerline, despite the use of brakes, rudder and ailerons.

But examination of the site indicated the aircraft touched down about 1,260m from the threshold, with its left main landing-gear on the grass verge and its right main gear on the runway shoulder.

It came to a halt 1,620m from the threshold with its landing-gear completely off the runway, embedded in mud, and the right wing-tip over the left runway shoulder.

Although the first officer had been designated as the flying pilot, the captain – who had over 2,000h on type – had taken over at 300ft for the landing.

Investigators have yet to establish conclusions over the cause of the incident. None of the 88 passengers and six crew members was injured.