What happened
On March 5, 2015, Delta Air Lines Flight 1086, a scheduled domestic service operating an MD-88 aircraft (registration N932DL), arrived at New York's LaGuardia Airport from Atlanta. Upon touchdown, the aircraft failed to remain on the paved surface and veered off the runway.
The plane mounted the seawall berm and collided with the perimeter fence. It continued to slide along the barrier for approximately 940 feet (290 m) before coming to a final stop. The nose of the aircraft ended up hanging over the berm above Flushing Bay. The impact caused serious damage to the airframe, resulting in the aircraft being written off.
Investigation
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) conducted an investigation into the accident. The inquiry focused on the pilot's actions and the aircraft's systems during the landing roll. The investigation established that the crew failed to deploy the thrust reversers after touchdown. This omission prevented the necessary deceleration, leading to the runway excursion.
Findings
The primary contributing factor was the flight crew's failure to activate the thrust reversers. This error resulted in insufficient braking capability during the landing phase. The accident occurred at LaGuardia Airport in New York City. No passengers or crew members died, but 29 individuals suffered minor injuries.