Originally Posted by
Jet Jockey A4
From the conversation in the cockpit that you provide on the chart it seems to me they did not have the required light to continue below the MDA... They should have initiated an immediate Go-Around.
The chart is my best attempt to correlate the information in the report, since the TSB did not see fit to do so. The report contains several contradictory statements about this point. The analysis says "As the aircraft reached the calculated MDA, both crew members observed some approach lights. These cues meet the criteria for required visual reference per the Air Canada Flight Operations Manual, the Transport Canada Aeronautical Information Manual, and the Canada Air Pilot general pages."
But earlier it states "At 0029:27, a radio altimeter automated audio call (automated call) of “400” was made, indicating that the aircraft was 400 feet above the terrain. Almost immediately after this call, the aircraft crossed the calculated MDA at 1.2 nm from the threshold. The PM observed some approach lights and called, “Minimum, lights only,” when the aircraft was about 1.0 nm from the threshold. The PF immediately called, “Landing,” and began to observe some approach lights. By this time, the aircraft had crossed the published MDA (740 feet ASL) and was 0.3 nm farther back than the published distance. The autopilot remained engaged as the aircraft continued descending, and there was no reduction in the descent rate."