History of Flight
On May 3, 2019, at 2142 eastern daylight time, Miami Air International flight 293, a Boeing 737-81Q (N732MA), departed the end of runway 10 while landing at Jacksonville Naval Air Station (NIP), Jacksonville, Florida, and came to rest in shallow water in the St. Johns River. The flight carried 2 pilots, 4 flight attendants, 1 mechanic in the jumpseat, and 136 passengers. One minor injury was reported; the remaining occupants were not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The flight operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 supplemental nonscheduled passenger flight from Leeward Point Field (MUGM), Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to NIP. Marginal visual flight rules conditions prevailed.
The accident flight was the second day of a 3-day pairing; three legs were scheduled, but the third leg was removed due to earlier maintenance delays. The captain and first officer were flying together for the first time. The captain served as pilot flying and also as check airman for the first officer, who was completing operating experience training. The No. 1 thrust reverser was deferred per the minimum equipment list.
About 30 minutes before landing, the flight deviated around weather. The flight crew set up the RNAV GPS approach to runway 10 with autobrake level 2. Air traffic control initially cleared the flight for the RNAV approach to runway 28, but the crew later requested and was cleared for runway 10. During the approach, the flight crew received precision approach radar monitoring. The wind was reported as 240° at 10 knots at the time of landing clearance.
The aircraft crossed the displaced threshold at 2141:38 at 140 ft msl, 170 knots indicated airspeed, 180 knots groundspeed, and a descent rate of 1,450 fpm. Touchdown occurred at 2141:43.1, approximately 20 ft right of centerline, 1,580 ft past the displaced threshold. The airplane drifted left then right, and despite brake and reverse thrust application, it crossed the runway end at 2142:10.4. It impacted a seawall at 2142:19.2, coming to rest in the river. An evacuation followed, with passengers using overwing exits and life rafts.
Personnel Information
The captain was hired by Miami Air in March 2008 and completed captain upgrade training in November 2015. He held an airline transport pilot certificate with type ratings in the B-727, B-737, SF-340, and SA-227, and served as a check airman. The first officer was hired in October 2018 and had about 18 hours in the B-737 at the time of the accident. He held a flight instructor certificate. Both pilots reported routine pre-accident activities and sleep schedules.