What happened
On November 16, 2004, a Boeing 777-200, registered as HL7597, was operating as flight AAR 607 on a scheduled service from Incheon, South Korea, to Auckland. The aircraft was carrying 200 passengers and 17 crew members. As the flight approached Auckland for landing on runway 23L, a work party had been authorized to enter a closed portion of the runway to perform maintenance. Although the workers became concerned by the low altitude of the descending aircraft and chose to stay clear of the runway surface, the aircraft ultimately touched down short of the displaced threshold. This landing occurred within the area where the workers were positioned. There were no injuries or damage reported following the incident.
The investigation
Investigators looked into the circumstances surrounding the approach and the communication between air traffic control and the flight crew. The investigation revealed that air traffic controllers had provided multiple warnings to the crew regarding the displaced threshold on runway 23L. However, the aircraft landed in the restricted area. The investigation also noted that the incident was not reported to the Civil Aviation Authority or the Transport Accident Investigation Commission until after the aircraft and its crew had departed New Zealand, which prevented investigators from conducting immediate interviews with the crew to fully assess all contributing factors.
Findings
Several factors contributed to the aircraft landing short of the intended threshold. The investigation identified that the crew was flying a stepped approach, which resulted in the aircraft being positioned below the standard glidepath for the displaced threshold. The presence of an unobstructed runway may have also influenced the crew's decision-making. Furthermore, poor communication skills were identified as a potential factor in the event. The investigation also considered the impact of English proficiency on crew compliance and competency, as well as the clarity of instrument approach charts and runway markings.
Safety action
Following the investigation, safety recommendations were issued to the aircraft operator, the aerodrome operator, and the air traffic services provider. These recommendations addressed several key areas, including the advantages of utilizing constant angle approaches, the presentation of approach charts, and the necessity of improving runway markings for displaced threshold operations. Additionally, the findings highlighted the importance of the timely notification of serious incidents to authorities.