DHL 727 overrun(old) report released
 

http://www.aib.gov.ng/reports/AIB-DHL-2006-09-07-F.pdf

Landed fast and long and during a thunderstorm in Lagos.

And played with the T/R during rollout.

Reason the FDR recorder did not record control inputs was unclear. Defect or ??.

Hardly the best written report ever, on top of which I've got this nagging feeling the people who wrote it are not fully conversant with airline operations.

One glaring mistake the report makes, is to state they were operating near to MTOW. They weren't; they were operating near to MALTOW - and that's hardly the same. They were close to MLW, by 112 lbs, and MFZW (21 lbs), but they were 20.000+ lbs below MTOW.

Regardless, will agree with at least one recommendation in the report: It's utterly stupid to operate large cargo aircraft in Africa without having either your own guys or the ground, or taking a loadie/mechanic along for the ride.

Also, they suggest that the F/O should not be flying the approach due to a thunderstorm. How about...they should not be flying the approach at all in these conditions.

Remember that day so well. I was the first person to approach the aircraft when it finally came to a full stop.

Was on my way to MM1 from MM2 in our crew bus for a flight to Dakar...Was a heavy downpour actually it was torrential Rain with severe winds and the runway, 18L had standing water. Remember saying to myself ain't going nowhere in a hurry with this weather.

I instructed the driver to head towards the aircraft after he had calmed down and I got out and walked towards the copilots side of the flightdeck and signalled to him if they were ok ....he gave me a thumbs up and I presume got back to reading their checklist.

Phoned my operations to call the tower on radio to inform them about the aircraft cos no one seemed to know their fate cos the rain was obstructing visibility.

Fire service showed up and I left for MM1 and after a quick change to dry clothes we departed for Dakar 1 hour later....