Incident Overview
On 18 July 2006, a Boeing 737-300 (registration EC-JUC) operating a passenger charter flight from Liverpool to Belfast (Aldergrove) Airport conducted a non-precision VOR/DME approach to Runway 07. The weather was fine with CAVOK conditions. The flight crew, comprising six crew and 142 passengers, had been vectored by Aldergrove Approach Control for the approach.
Misidentification of Runway
While established on final approach, the crew misidentified a different runway as Runway 07 at Aldergrove. They began descending from 2,400 ft at the correct descent point of 7.2 DME, but deviated to the right of the inbound course. The aircraft descended to approximately 300 ft amsl (about 200 ft above Langford Lodge airfield level) before the Aldergrove Tower controller, alerted by the Approach controller's lower height filter, instructed the crew to climb immediately. The crew responded and initiated a go-around.
Subsequent Approach
After the go-around, the crew accepted the option to reposition visually for Runway 07. The Tower controller observed the aircraft fly a wider than normal visual circuit. The aircraft initially turned inside the runway centre line, then 'flew through' it to the south before correcting with a relatively large angle at low altitude. The manoeuvring continued as the aircraft descended through 250 ft aal. The tower controller noted significant manoeuvring close to the ground before the aircraft aligned with the runway and landed. There were no injuries to the 6 crew or 142 passengers, though several passengers appeared upset and at least one made an official complaint.
Witness Information
A captain from the chartering airline, positioning on the aircraft, reported that the aircraft was not on the normal approach path and suspected the crew was approaching Langford Lodge. The go-around occurred at an estimated 50 to 100 ft. The crew made a public address stating the landing was not possible due to a blocked runway. Passengers remained calm until the next approach, which involved steep turns at low altitude just before landing.
Aerodrome Information
Aldergrove Airport (elevation 268 ft) had a 2,780 m Runway 07/25 equipped with high intensity lighting, PAPI, and markings. The VOR/DME (code BEL) was on the airport, with a final approach track of 059°M offset 12° from the runway heading. The approach chart carried a warning that Langford Lodge aerodrome lies under the final approach track 3.5 nm before the threshold.
Langford Lodge (elevation approx 100 ft) is an unlicensed private airfield 3.5 nm south-west of the Runway 07 threshold. It had cross runways 08/26 and 03/21; Runway 08 was about 1,450 m with no lights or approach aids. All runway markings except centre line had been removed to reduce misidentification risk.
Recorded Data
Radar data showed the aircraft began descent at 7.2 DME with an average rate of 1,700 ft/min, increasing to 2,000 ft/min in the lower 1,000 ft. The aircraft took 74 seconds from the final descent point to go-around. Mode C indicated a minimum altitude of 300 ft amsl (approx 200 ft agl) before climbing.
ATC Involvement
Aldergrove Approach controller warned the Tower controller after the aircraft descended below 400 ft on his display. The Tower controller instructed the crew to climb immediately. The crew responded and later apologized, stating they were approaching an old runway. After the go-around, the crew was cleared to reposition visually for Runway 07.