Runway overrun

Citation

(2007), "Runway overrun", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 79 No. 5. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.2007.12779eab.014

Runway overrun

Runway overrun

The National Transportation Safety Board recently released the following update: on its investigation into the runway overrun of a Bombardier CRJ- 200 regional jet on April 12, 2007, about 12:43 am EDT, in Traverse City, Michigan. Flight 4712, operated by Pinnacle Airlines, overran the runway while landing at Cherry Capital Airport, Traverse City. There were no injuries among the 49 passengers (including three lap-held infants) and three crew members, and the aircraft received substantial damage.

The flight was cleared for an instrument landing system (ILS) approach to runway 28 by Minneapolis Air Route Traffic Control Center. The Traverse City control tower was closed at 10:00 pm per normal operations. Weather was reported as snowing. Automatic weather observation data indicated at 12:30 am, the visibility was one-half mile in snow, with indefinite ceiling and vertical visibility of 200feet. Snow removal operations were in progress at the airport, and the flight crew communicated directly with airport operations regarding the runway conditions.

After landing, the aeroplane overran the departure end of runway 28, which is 6,501feet long, with an additional 200feet of pavement. Initial examination indicates, that the aeroplane exited the paved surface onto a grassy snow-covered field, the nose gear separated from the fuselage, and the aeroplane came to rest about 100feet beyond the pavement. The passengers and crew exited the aeroplane via the main cabin door.

A go-team was launched from NTSB Headquarters under the direction of Investigator in Charge Bill English and specialists in Operations, Human Performance, and Airworthiness.

Flight data and cockpit voice recorders were recovered from the aeroplane and read out at the NTSB Laboratory in Washington, DC. Initial audition of the recorders indicates, both were in good condition and include the accident flight. A cockpit voice recorder group was formed and will produce a transcript of the recording.

The Operations and Human Performance Group interviewed the flight crew on April 13. The captain, a company check airman who was piloting the aircraft, had a total time of about 5,600h with 4,390 flight hours in the CRJ-200.

The first officer, who had been hired by Pinnacle in January 2007, had 2,500 total flight hours with 15 flight hours in the CRJ-200. Additional interviews of airline personnel involved with the flight and the crew were done on scene or scheduled for the near future. Airport personnel working at the time of the accident, and airport management personnel were also interviewed, and an Airport Operations Group has been formed.

Further, work remains in evaluating the recorder data, weather information, airport field conditions and communication, and performance of the aeroplane. An Aircraft-Performance Group will be formed, and specialists in Meteorology and Air Traffic Control are also supporting the investigation. Parties to the investigation include the Federal Aviation Administration, Pinnacle Airlines, Airline Pilots Association, General Electric Aircraft Engines, and the Northwest Regional Airport Commission. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has provided an Accredited Representative and technical advisors from Bombardier Aerospace.