What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on null involved a aircraft, registration G-ECAT, at IE.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The accident was caused by a low and fast approach that led to a late touchdown, making it impossible to stop the aircraft on the remaining runway. Contributing factors included the lack of an adequate overrun area and the loss of braking effectiveness due to tyre failure.

Runway Excursion at Sligo Airport Involving Fokker F 27

A Fokker F 27-500 aircraft overran the runway at Sligo Airport during a landing in gusty conditions, resulting in the nose section entering the sea.

What happened

On 2 November 2002, a Fokker F 2-7500 aircraft, registration G-ECAT, was performing a scheduled passenger flight from Dublin to Sligo. During the approach to Runway 11, the aircraft encountered significant wind gusts, with speeds reaching up to 31 knots. The aircraft performed a low and fast approach, touching down approximately halfway down the runway.

Following touchdown, the aircraft failed to decelerate effectively. The pilot applied braking pressure, but the aircraft began to skid along the paved surface. During the excursion, several tyres burst due to heavy braking on locked wheels. The aircraft eventually departed the runway at the edge of the threshold, traveling through a run-off area before coming to a halt against a boulder embankment. The nose section of the aircraft tilted downward into the sea. Despite the precarious position of the aircraft, all 36 passengers and 4 crew members were evacuated safely via a ladder through the rear portside door. There were no injuries reported.

The investigation

The investigation examined the flight's approach, the mechanical state of the aircraft, and the airport's infrastructure. Investigators analyzed the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder, which revealed that the approach was difficult due to the gusty conditions, requiring frequent throttle adjustments. The investigation also looked into the failure of the tyres, determining that the brakes were applied while the wheels were not rotating, leading to rapid tread erosion and subsequent bursts. Furthermore, the investigators reviewed the airport's layout, noting that the proximity of the sea at the runway ends limited the available overrun area.

Findings

The primary cause of the accident was a fast and low approach, which resulted in a late touchdown point that left insufficient runway for the aircraft to stop.
The failure to achieve Ground Fine Pitch on the first attempt may have distracted the crew during the critical landing phase.
The application of heavy braking on locked wheels led to the destruction of the tyres, negating braking effectiveness.
The lack of an adequate overrun area at the end of the runway contributed to the aircraft exiting the paved surface and entering the sea.
The operator was relatively new to scheduled air operations with the specific aircraft type.