What happened
On a flight from Antigua to John A Osborne Airport in Montserrat, an aircraft carrying the pilot and six passengers experienced a runway excursion during the landing phase. The flight, which lasted approximately 19 minutes, was conducted under good visual meteorological conditions at a cruising altitude of 2,000 ft. Upon arrival, the pilot established a downwind leg for Runway 10.
The landing was initially described as smooth, with the aircraft touching down at a speed of approximately 60 kt on a dry runway surface. However, after the main landing gear made contact but before the nosewheel reached the ground, the pilot attempted to apply the brakes. During this process, the pilot noted that the left brake felt spongy and failed to respond effectively, while the right brake functioned normally.
Due to this braking asymmetry, the pilot lost directional control. Two seconds after touchdown, the aircraft veered toward the right, and three seconds later, it departed the runway surface. The aircraft traveled across a grassy area before striking an embankment near the runway. The impact caused the left main landing gear to collapse, which blocked the left-side cabin exit. The pilot evacuated via the flight deck door, while the six passengers exited through the right-side door. The airport fire service reached the scene within one minute of the incident.
Findings
- The pilot experienced a malfunction in the left braking system, characterized by a spongy sensation and lack of braking action.
- The loss of directional control led to the aircraft veering right and exiting the runway.
- There were zero fatalities and no reported injuries among the seven occupants.