Background
On 10 November 2009, runway 14/32 at an airport was under permanent maintenance, conducted every Tuesday. A NOTAM 'G' (G 0128/08) was issued by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) on the same day, designating runway 27 as runway 27A for visual approaches only. The landing distance available (LDA) and takeoff distance available (TODA) for runway 27A were 1703 meters.
Accident Sequence
Before the Kingfisher aircraft, an Air India Airbus A319 (flight IC-164) had landed and reported to air traffic control (ATC) that it had aquaplaned and broken two runway edge lights. ATC acknowledged the report and dispatched a runway inspection vehicle. However, the ATC controller was unfamiliar with the term 'aquaplaning' and did not grasp its significance. The controller subsequently cleared the Kingfisher aircraft for landing without transmitting the aquaplaning report to its crew.
At the time of the accident, weather conditions included wind from 070° at 7 knots, visibility of 2800 meters, and feeble rain. Water patches were present on the runway.
According to the digital flight data recorder (DFDR), the Kingfisher aircraft was not on the profile prescribed by the NOTAM 'G' localizer procedure; it was high and fast. The aircraft landed late on the runway, with approximately 1000 meters of runway remaining from the touchdown point. Under the prevailing conditions, this length was just sufficient to stop the aircraft on the runway.
During landing, the Kingfisher aircraft aquaplaned and failed to decelerate despite the application of thrust reversers and full manual braking by both cockpit crew members. The aircraft began skidding left of the centerline. Near the runway end, the pilot initiated a 45° right turn. After crossing taxi track 'N 10', the aircraft rolled onto an unpaved wet area, traversed drainage pipes, and came to a stop near an open drain. No fire occurred, and all passengers deplaned safely.
Probable Cause
The official findings state that the accident occurred due to an unstabilized approach and the crew's decision not to execute a go-around. Contributory factors included: i) water patches on runway 27; ii) the ATC controller's failure to communicate the previous aircraft's aquaplaning to the Kingfisher aircraft; and iii) lack of input from the copilot.