What happened
On 15 December 2004, an ATR 72-202, registration EI-RED, was preparing for a scheduled flight from Galway Airport to London Luton. While taxiing on runway 26, the crew attempted a 180-degree turn at the eastern end of the runway to align for departure. During this maneuver, the nose landing gear and the left-hand main landing gear moved off the paved surface and into the soft grass adjacent to the runway. The aircraft came to a stop after the left main gear traveled approximately 3 meters into the unpaved area. There were no injuries to the 31 passengers or 4 crew members, and no damage was sustained by the aircraft.
The investigation
The investigation examined the physical characteristics of the runway and the maneuvering capabilities of the aircraft. Galway Airport's runway 26 is 30 meters wide and lacks a dedicated taxiway turnaround or turn pad at its end. Investigators analyzed the steering angles required for an aircraft of this size to complete a full reversal within the available pavement. While the runway surface was reported as damp, the investigation found no evidence of skidding or slipping during the turn. The study also reviewed the aircraft's turning radius relative to the runway width, noting that shallower steering angles require the turn to be initiated very close to the runway edge to remain on the pavement.
Findings
Several factors contributed to the excursion. The investigation determined that the aircraft's nose landing gear left the pavement as the turn reached approximately 90 degrees. The primary contributing factors included the lack of a turn pad or taxiway turnaround at the runway end, which forced the maneuver to be performed within the narrow confines of the runway itself. Additionally, using a steering angle below 45 degrees or failing to initiate the reversal close enough to the runway edge significantly reduced the safety margin. While the aircraft is capable of performing such a turn on the existing pavement, the absence of extra maneuvering space increased the risk of the gear departing the paved surface.
Safety action
Following the investigation, a safety recommendation was issued to the Galway Airport Management Board to consider the installation of turn pads at both ends of the runway in any future improvement or extension plans. The airport management has accepted this recommendation.