PAA 212 Overshoots Runway at JFK After ILS Approach (N779PA)

Flight Operations and Approach Conditions PAA 212 departed Dulles Airport at 2221 with 9 crew members and 136 passengers. The flight proceeded under instrument conditions until arriving in the New York area. At 2239, the New York Center controller provided JFK weather to the flight, reporting a runway visual range (RVR) of 1,600 feet on runway 4R. At 2250, JFK Approach Control established radar and radio contact, advising the crew of weather conditions including a measured ceiling of 1,500 feet overcast, visibility of 1.5 miles in fog, and an RVR of more than 1,000 feet on runway 4R. The aircraft, registered N779PA, was restricted to landing minimums of a 300-foot ceiling and 3/4 mile visibility. ## Approach and Missed Approach Instructions The flight reported over the Colts Neck VOR at 2253:35 and was cleared to descend from 6,000 to 1,500 feet. Vectors were issued to position the aircraft on the inbound heading to the Outer Marker (OM). At 2256:15, the crew reported reaching 1,500 feet at an airspeed of 180. Additional delaying vectors were provided to position the aircraft three and a half miles behind a DC-8 landing ahead. At 2259:45, the JFK local controller instructed the flight to report passing the outer marker and cleared it to land on runway 4R, noting calm winds and an RVR of more than 6,000 feet. Due to prevailing visibility of less than three miles, the Precision Approach Radar (PAR) controller monitored all ILS approaches to runway 4R. ## Runway Excursion and Evacuation At 2301:10, the PAR controller advised the flight was on the localizer, one mile from the outer marker, with course and glidepath OK. At 2301:40, PAA 212 reported passing the outer marker, and the PAR controller advised it was two miles from touchdown. At 2301:45, the local controller cleared the flight to land on runway 4R, stating traffic would be clear in five seconds. At 2302:10, the PAR controller instructed the crew to execute a missed approach if the runway was not in sight. The flight acknowledged with “Uh. . . Roger two one two.” The next radio transmission occurred at 2303:10 when the local controller attempted to contact the flight but was unable to establish radio contact. After touchdown, the aircraft continued down and off the runway across the asphalt overrun and through a sandy area before coming to rest in the shallow water of Thurston Basin approximately 800 feet from the far end of runway 4R. The crew proceeded aft to assist passengers. The main forward (left) cabin door was opened, allowing passengers in that section to exit. Passengers in the aft section left through overwing exits onto the wings, while others exited through the two rear doors and entered two launched life rafts. Evacuation of the aft section was completed in approximately five minutes. After seats and debris were removed from the first-class compartment aisle, some persons from the aft section reentered the aircraft and exited through the main forward cabin door. The aircraft broke in two and was written off. Among the 145 occupants, 40 were injured (seven seriously), and 105 were unhurt.