Runway excursions - SKYbrary

Figure 24: Airbus A320 overrun accident, Congonhas Airport, Sao Paulo,
Brazil, 17 July 2007
Source: USA Today
How did it happen?
At the time of writing, the accident was being investigated by the Brazilian Centro
de Investigação e Prevenção de Acidentes Aeronáuticos (CENIPA).
Initial analysis of the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder data by the
NTSB several days after the accident indicated that the flight crew were aware that
the aircraft's right thrust reverser was unserviceable and not available for the
landing. The cockpit voice recorder transcript also indicates that the spoilers did not
activate after touchdown, delaying the deceleration of the aircraft on the runway.
In the wet conditions, it is possible that the aircraft aquaplaned and hence did not
stop before the end of the runway. Flight crew error may have also potentially
played a role in the delayed braking of the aircraft
Why did it happen?
The runway conditions at the time of the accident were ‘wet and slippery’, and the
wind was reported from 330 degrees at 8 kts. Runway 35L had an asphalt surface
and had recently been resurfaced; however, it was not grooved at the time. The
accident happened in darkness (1850 local time). Runway 35L had a published
landing distance of 1,879 m at the time of the accident.
At the time of the accident, the aircraft was operating with a deactivated thrust
reverser on the number 2 (right) engine.
(Ascend, 2007; Aviation Safety Network, 2008).
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