Runway excursion involving cargo aircraft at Recife-Guararapes Airport

No fatalities • Recife-Guararapes, Brazil • Landing (descent or approach)

A cargo flight operating from São Paulo experienced a runway excursion during landing at Recife-Guararapes Airport due to asymmetric engine thrust settings.

What happened

A cargo flight departing from São Paulo-Guarulhos Airport was performing a routine delivery service to Recife-Guararapes Airport. During the final approach to runway 18, the aircraft was fully configured for landing and maintained an altitude of 500 feet before receiving landing clearance.

Upon touchdown on the runway, an operational error occurred regarding the engine thrust levers. The crew moved the left engine thrust lever to maximum takeoff power, while the right engine lever was moved to the idle position and then into reverse thrust. This asymmetric thrust configuration caused the aircraft to deviate sharply to the right of the runway centerline.

As the aircraft veered off the paved surface and encountered soft ground, the nose landing gear collapsed. The aircraft eventually came to a stop to the right of the runway. While the aircraft sustained damage beyond repair, there were no fatalities among the four occupants, all of whom evacuated the plane safely.

Findings

The primary factor in the loss of directional control was the simultaneous application of maximum takeoff power on the left engine and reverse thrust on the right engine immediately following touchdown.

Probable cause

The aircraft veered off the runway due to an asymmetric thrust setting involving maximum power on one engine and reverse thrust on the other.

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Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2016-10-21 Airbus A300 accident near Recife-Guararapes, Brazil?

A cargo flight operating from São Paulo experienced a runway excursion during landing at Recife-Guararapes Airport due to asymmetric engine thrust settings.

Were there any fatalities in the 2016-10-21 Airbus A300 accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2016-10-21 involved a Airbus A300, registration PR-STN, operated by Sterna Linhas Aéreas, at Recife-Guararapes, Brazil.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The aircraft veered off the runway due to an asymmetric thrust setting involving maximum power on one engine and reverse thrust on the other.

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