FROM: THE BOEING COMPANY
SUBJECT: 737-800 Landing Overrun Accident at Kingston, Jamaica – 22 December 2009
Several points from the press release are paraphrased below:
•There were 154 persons on board the aircraft with no fatalities but numerous injuries reported.
•An ILS approach to Runway 12 at KIN was made at 10:23pm local time (night lighting conditions) in heavy rain and with a tail wind of about 14 knots.
•According to the FDR, the aircraft was traveling at the Vref (landing) airspeed of 148 knots, with a groundspeed of 162 knots, i.e. with a tailwind component of 14 knots, when the wheels made initial contact at about 4,000 feet down the 8,900-foot runway.
•Brakes were applied initially by the Autobrake system to a level of Autobrakes 3, then the crew subsequently applied maximum manual braking.
• The FDR indicates that the aircraft departed the end of the runway at a groundspeed of 63 knots.
• The runway at KIN is ungrooved asphalt. An evaluation of the runway surface conditions at the time of landing is in progress in order to assess how runway friction effected the airplane’s braking forces. To this point in the investigation, no mechanical problems have been found with any aspect of the aircraft.
• The JCAA continues its investigation of this event, and will provide additional updates as progress is made.
Boeing has no recommended operator action at this time. If the investigation shows any specific actions are recommended or required, operators will be notified.
Chief Engineer - Air Safety Investigation
The Boeing Company
KG says: Deep landing, tailwind, floating.. was never going to be good!