What happened
On 18 December 2000, an Antonov 124-100, operated by the Antonov Design Bureau, was performing a cargo flight from Montréal to Windsor, Ontario, to collect auto parts for delivery to Belgium. During the night, the aircraft arrived at Windsor Airport and conducted an instrument landing system approach to Runway 25.
While the aircraft was flying in instrument meteorological conditions with light snow, the crew touched down approximately 3400 feet past the runway threshold. Due to the long touchdown and the presence of snow and ice on the runway surface, the crew was unable to stop the aircraft within the remaining runway length. The Antonov 124-100 overran the end of the runway, coming to a stop about 340 feet beyond the threshold, near the airport boundary fence. There were no injuries to the 20 crew members and one passenger on board, though the aircraft sustained minor damage.
The investigation
The investigation examined several factors regarding the landing performance and the information available to the crew. It was established that the aircraft landed with a 4-knot tailwind, which increased the required stopping distance. The investigation also analyzed the runway surface conditions, noting that while snow ploughing had recently occurred, traces of loose snow and ice patches remained on the runway.
Investigators looked into the communication between air traffic control and the flight crew. Specifically, they examined why a Canadian runway friction index (CRFI) of 0.30, which had been issued by airport maintenance, was not communicated to the pilots. Additionally, the use of the non-standard term "moderate" to describe braking action was reviewed, as this terminology could have caused confusion for the crew.