NTSB Issues Investigative Updates for LaGuardia 737 Runway Excursion, Fort Lauderdale MD-10-10F Gear Collapse, Fire
Nov. 22, 2016
WASHINGTON — The National Transportation Safety Board issued investigative updates Tuesday as part of the agency’s ongoing investigation of a Boeing 737 runway excursion at New York's LaGuardia Airport and a Boeing MD-10 landing gear failure accident in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Both events happened in late October.
Eastern Air Lines Runway Excursion
A Boeing 737-700 (registration N278EA), a chartered flight operated by Eastern Air Lines Group, overran Runway 22 during landing at LaGuardia Airport, Flushing, New York, Oct. 27, about 7:42 p.m. EDT. The airplane veered to the right during the overrun and partially transited the Engineered Material Arresting System before it came to a stop on the turf about 200 feet from the runway end. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. The 11 crew and 37 passengers, including then vice presidential candidate Mike Pence, deplaned via the airstairs. The flight originated at Fort Dodge, Iowa, about 4:23 p.m. CDT.
NTSB investigators document the B-737 involved in the runway excursion. Photo: Peter Knudson/NTSB
Initial findings include the following:
- The airplane was manufactured in 1998. It had accumulated 48,179 total flight hours with 17,098 total flight cycles at the time of the incident.
- Investigators retrieved the flight data and cockpit voice recorders shortly after arriving on scene. The recorders were transported to the NTSB recorders lab for download. Both recorders contained good quality data.
- The flight crew reported the landing followed a stable approach.
- The flight crew reported sighting the runway when the airplane was about 700 feet above the ground; they said that the airplane “floated” during the landing flare; the main landing gear touched down on the wet runway about 3,000 feet beyond the runway threshold.
- The speed brakes were manually engaged about four seconds after touchdown. Thrust reversers were deployed about seven seconds after touchdown.
- The flight crew did not report any mechanical irregularities or abnormal braking action, which was corroborated by the flight data recorder.
- Investigators interviewed flight crews of the four airplanes that landed immediately prior to the incident airplane; none reported any problems with braking action on the wet runway.
The on-scene investigation was completed Oct. 30, after which the airplane was released to the operator. The performance of the EMAS will be examined to determine its effect on the deceleration of the airplane.
Parties to the investigation are the Federal Aviation Administration, Eastern Air Lines Group and Boeing.