Runway excursion at Rhodes-Diagoras Airport

No fatalities • Rhodes-Diagoras, Greece • Landing (descent or approach)

An aircraft arriving from Dubai overran the runway at Rhodes-Diagoras Airport following a high-speed landing in adverse weather conditions.

What happened

During an arrival from Dubai, the crew of the aircraft type approached Rhodes-Diagess Airport amidst heavy rain and significant wind. Upon landing, the aircraft reached the runway at a speed of 166 knots, which was approximately 22 knots higher than the recommended reference speed.

Following the touchdown, the ground spoilers failed to deploy automatically because the system had not been armed prior to landing. This failure prevented the automatic braking system from engaging, as the system relies on spoiler deployment to function. Although the crew attempted to apply manual braking, the intervention occurred too late to prevent the aircraft from exceeding the available runway length. The aircraft subsequently overran the runway, resulting in the loss of its undercarriage before coming to a stop several dozen meters past the end of the pavement.

Despite the significant damage to the airframe, which was determined to be beyond economical repair, all 271 occupants were evacuated from the plane without any fatalities or injuries.

Findings

Investigation into the excursion indicates that the failure to arm the ground spoilers was a critical factor, as it directly prevented the activation of the automated braking systems during a high-speed landing.

Probable cause

The failure to arm the ground spoilers prevented the automatic braking system from functioning, leading to an overrun during a high-speed landing in poor weather.

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Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1999-03-24 Airbus A300 accident near Rhodes-Diagoras, Greece?

An aircraft arriving from Dubai overran the runway at Rhodes-Diagoras Airport following a high-speed landing in adverse weather conditions.

Were there any fatalities in the 1999-03-24 Airbus A300 accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1999-03-24 involved a Airbus A300, registration A6-PFD, operated by United Arab Emirates - Amiri Flight, at Rhodes-Diagoras, Greece.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The failure to arm the ground spoilers prevented the automatic braking system from functioning, leading to an overrun during a high-speed landing in poor weather.

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