What happened
On the night of 25 February 2017, an Air Canada Airbus Industrie A320-211, registered as C-FDRP, was performing a scheduled flight from Halifax/Stanfield International Airport to Toronto/Lester B. Pearson International Airport. While approaching Runway 15R, the aircraft began drifting to the right of the runway centerline. Shortly after the wheels made contact with the pavement near the right edge of the runway, the plane continued its rightward movement and exited the paved surface. The aircraft traveled roughly 2390 feet through a grassy area west of the runway, running parallel to the strip before eventually returning to the pavement. During the excursion, the aircraft hit five runway edge lights, resulting in minor damage to the left engine cowling and the left outboard wheel. There were no injuries reported.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the aircraft's path during the landing phase and the environmental conditions present at the time of the event. Investigators examined the sequence of the aircraft's deviation from the centerline and the impact with runway lighting infrastructure.