What happened
On the morning of the incident, a flight crew consisting of a commander, a co-pilot, and one cabin crewmember arrived at Guernsey Airport for duty. The flight was a training session intended to familiarize a newly joined first officer with company procedures. The initial leg of the flight was scheduled from Guernsey to Jersey.
Following a standard pre-flight inspection, the ATR 72 departed Guernsey at 00705 hrs. The flight proceeded without issue, and the weather conditions at the destination were favorable, featuring good visibility and light winds. The commander opted for a visual approach to Runway 27, configuring the aircraft with flap 30 and confirming that all landing gear indicators showed the gear was securely locked.
Upon landing, the aircraft experienced a crosswind from the left, causing the left main gear to make contact with the runway first. Immediately after touchdown, the crew heard an unusual noise, leading the commander to suspect a tire burst. As the aircraft slowed to 70 kt, the co-pilot assumed control of the ailerons to allow the commander to manage the steering tiller. However, the aircraft began a continuous roll to the left despite corrective steering inputs.
An observer from ground operations noted that the left landing gear leg appeared improperly deployed as the aircraft passed. The roll continued until the left wingtip and propeller struck the runway surface. The aircraft eventually came to a stop left of the centerline near Holding Point D. To prevent further danger, the commander shut down both engines. There were 0 fatalities and no injuries reported during the event.
Findings
- The aircraft experienced a significant roll to the left following touchdown.
- A ground observer identified that the left landing gear leg did not appear to be properly extended during the excursion.