What happened
On 13 April 2010, a Boeing 737-300, registration PK-MDE, was operating a scheduled flight from Makassar to Manokwari with a transit stop in Sorong. After a delay of approximately two hours and 43 minutes due to heavy rainfall, the aircraft departed Sorong under Instrument Flight Rules. Because the destination airport lacked a published instrument approach, the crew was required to perform the arrival under Visual Flight Rules.
During the approach to Rendani Airport, the crew communicated with Rendani Radio, reporting their position and altitude. The controller provided weather updates, noting low cloud ceilings and visibility. While the crew acknowledged the wind conditions, they did not specifically repeat the information regarding the wet state of the runway. The aircraft touched down on runway 3ered 35 at approximately 0155 UTC. Witnesses and airport reports noted that the landing appeared smooth, but the engine reversers were not utilized during the landing roll.
As the aircraft decelerated, it veered to the left roughly 140 meters from the runway end. The aircraft subsequently overran the departure end of the runway, traveling 205 meters past the threshold before coming to a stop in the Rendani River, an area characterized by shallow, muddy water and mangrove vegetation. There were 0 fatalities and 0 injuries reported, as all passengers and crew were successfully evacuated by 0230 UTC. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
Findings
- The aircraft landed on a wet runway.
- The engine reversers were not deployed during the landing roll.