What happened
On June 26, 2002, an All Nippon Airways Boeing 767-200, registered as JA8254, was conducting takeoff and landing training at Shimoji-Shima Airport. The flight crew consisted of three pilots: an instructor captain and two trainee pilots. The training session involved multiple landings on different runways under varying engine configurations, including simulated engine failures.
Following a change in wind direction that prompted a shift from runway 17 to runway 35, the trainee pilot in the left seat performed landings with both engines operational before transitioning to single-engine simulated failure drills. During a landing attempt with the right engine simulated inoperative, the aircraft experienced a late touchdown. The pilot attempted to initiate a go-around procedure using only the thrust from the left engine.
While the instructor subsequently increased power to the right engine, a delay occurred where the right engine remained at minimum idle thrust while the left engine power was increasing. This thrust imbalance occurred while right rudder was being applied, causing the aircraft to roll and yaw toward the east. The aircraft veered off runway 35 and entered a grass field, coming to a rest approximately 1,990 meters from the initial touchdown point. There were 0 fatalities and no injuries reported among the three occupants.
Findings
An imbalance in engine thrust between the left and right engines during a critical phase of the go-around maneuver caused the aircraft to lose directional control.