What happened
During an approach to Libreville-Léon Mba Airport, the flight crew encountered severe weather characterized by heavy rainfall and low visibility. The conditions prevented an immediate landing, necessitating a holding pattern that lasted approximately 30 minutes while the crew waited for the weather to clear.
Upon successfully landing on runway 16, the aircraft failed to decelerate sufficiently within the available runway length. The aircraft overran the 3,000-meter runway at a speed of 100 knots, subsequently striking a fence before coming to a halt 100 meters beyond the runway end. Although the aircraft sustained damage beyond repair, all 131 occupants managed to evacuate the plane without any fatalities or injuries.
Findings
Investigations into the incident highlighted several critical factors. The runway surface provided poor braking action due to the heavy rain. Post-incident reports indicated a discrepancy in engine configuration, noting that the left engine throttle lever remained in the full forward position after touchdown, while the right engine throttle lever was set to reverse. Additionally, the crew did not execute a go-around procedure despite the challenging environmental conditions.