Incident Overview
On 14 July 2008, a Chanchangi Airlines Boeing 737-282, registration 5N-BIG, operated a scheduled domestic flight from Murtala Muhammed International Airport (DNMM) to Port Harcourt International Airport (DNPO) under call sign NCH138. The flight carried 47 persons: 41 passengers, two flight crew, and four flight attendants. Fuel endurance was three hours. The captain served as pilot flying and the first officer as pilot monitoring.
Flight Progression
The flight was initially scheduled to depart at 15:30 h but was delayed due to baggage loading. After departure, the aircraft was cleared to flight level 290 and proceeded normally. Contacting DNPO Approach Control at 17:05 h, the crew estimated overhead Port Harcourt (POT) at 17:50 h. Inbound clearance was issued to POT1 VOR with weather information for 17:00 h indicating calm wind, visibility 10 km, broken clouds at 270 m, scattered clouds at 600 m, scattered cumulonimbus, temperature 25/24°C, thunderstorms, temporarily variable wind 8 kt gusting 18 kt, visibility 3000 m, thunderstorms and rain, and expectation of runway 21 for landing.
Descent was initially requested at about 100 nautical miles (NM) but due to ATC delay commenced at about 80 NM. At 18:00 h, the crew requested to hold over POT at 3500 ft for weather improvement because rain was over the station with build-up at the threshold of runway 21. At about 15 NM between radials 180° and 210°, the crew reported breaking out of weather.
Approach and Landing Attempts
At 18:19 h, the crew requested weather information and was advised that runway 03 was better for landing. They requested runway 03, and Approach Control cleared them for that approach. At 18:27 h, the crew reported established on approach to runway 03, leaving 2000 ft. Transfer to Tower occurred, and at 18:28 h the Tower instructed to report field in sight. The crew acknowledged and reported runway 03 in sight. Tower cleared them to land on runway 03, cautioning that the runway was wet. At 18:34 h, the crew executed a missed approach and requested climb to 3500 ft, which was cleared.
At 18:39 h, the crew requested descent and clearance for an approach to runway 21. Approach Control cleared descent to 2000 ft and instructed to report to Tower when established and leaving 2000 ft. At 18:42 h, the crew reported inbound maintaining 2000 ft. Approach Control requested distance from the runway and sought consent for Arik 514 at the holding point to take off; NCH138 declined, being about 10 miles to touchdown. At 18:45 h, the crew reported five miles to touchdown. Approach Control handed over to Tower on 119.2 MHz. Tower cleared them to land on runway 21, wind 010° at 10 kt, and cautioned about a wet runway. The crew acknowledged.
Accident
The aircraft landed hard and bounced three times on the runway. According to the ATC controller, after touchdown the aircraft rolled in an s-pattern before overrunning the runway. The aircraft made a 180° turn with the right engine hitting the ground. It came to a final stop on the left side, 10 m beyond the stopway. The accident occurred at night in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). The Aerodrome Rescue and Fire Fighting Service arrived and commenced rescue operations immediately. All occupants evacuated; one passenger sustained a minor injury.