What happened
During an arrival at Newman Airport, an aircraft touched down on runway 05 but failed to achieve the expected deceleration. As the aircraft moved along the runway, the captain identified that the aircraft was experiencing aquaplaning. In response, the pilot implemented the appropriate aquaplaning recovery technique and engaged maximum reverse thrust. Despite these efforts, the aircraft continued past the runway threshold, eventually coming to a stop 70 m beyond the upwind end of the runway.
The investigation
Investigators examined several critical elements surrounding the landing. The analysis focused on the aircraft's speed at the moment of touchdown and the subsequent effectiveness of the braking systems. Furthermore, the investigation looked into the environmental conditions present during the landing to determine how they impacted the aircraft's performance. The scope of the inquiry also included evaluating the information provided to the flight crew, specifically regarding their ability to perform a proper threat assessment and their awareness of the runway's surface condition.