2021 LAM Boeing 737-700 runway excursion at Quelimane (C9-BAR)

Overview and basic information On 26 February 2021, a Boeing 737-700 operated by LAM - Linhas Aéreas de Moçambique SARL, registration C9-BAR, was involved in a serious incident at Quelimane Airport. The aircraft, serial number 30674, was on a scheduled flight TM 1134 from Maputo International Airport to Quelimane Airport, with Beira International Airport listed as the alternate. The flight carried 99 passengers and 5 crew members. ## Occurrence The aircraft departed Maputo runway 05 at 13:06 local time. The flight proceeded normally until the approach phase. During landing on runway 18 at approximately 14:31 local time (12:31 UTC), the crew reported that the aircraft was not decelerating sufficiently. To prevent the aircraft from leaving the runway at the threshold, the pilot-in-command steered the aircraft to the left. The aircraft left the runway in the area of the runway 36 threshold, where it became embedded and came to rest at an angle of 52 degrees relative to the runway axis. From the touchdown point to the final stop, the aircraft traveled approximately 1,300 meters. Emergency exits and escape slides were not activated, and the pilot-in-command did not declare an emergency. Passengers and crew disembarked through the main door. ## Meteorological information The METAR for Quelimane Airport at 12:00 UTC, valid until 13:00 UTC, reported wind from 270 degrees at 4 knots and good visibility. A SPECI was issued at 12:04 UTC, reporting wind from 190 degrees at 18 knots, gusting to 26 knots, visibility of 6,000 meters, showers, scattered clouds with a base at 1,000 feet, and broken clouds with a base at 1,800 feet. The temperature was 35 degrees Celsius, the dew point was 24 degrees Celsius, and the atmospheric pressure was 1006 hectopascals. ## Crew information The flight crew consisted of a pilot-in-command and a co-pilot, both Mozambican males. The pilot-in-command was 36 years old and held a MOZ-PLAA license, with a total of 5,115 hours and 39 minutes of experience, including 1,109 hours and 40 minutes as pilot-in-command on the Boeing 737-700. The co-pilot was 33 years old and held a MOZ-PCA license, with a total of 518 hours and 10 minutes of experience, including 166 hours and 45 minutes on the Boeing 737-700. The cabin crew consisted of three Mozambican crew members: a 38-year-old female chief purser and two male cabin crew members aged 36 and 31. ## Investigation The investigation was conducted by the Unidade de Prevenção e Investigação de Acidentes com Aeronaves (UPIAA), the Mozambican accident investigation authority. The responsible investigator was Rafael Matsimbe. The investigation included the designation of an investigation committee, a go team, collection of evidence at the scene, interviews with air traffic controllers and airport dispatch personnel, a visit to the control tower, interviews with the crew and witnesses, and interviews with inspectors from the Directorate of Flight Safety Services of the IACM. The preliminary report was prepared solely for the purpose of accident and incident prevention, in accordance with Annex 13 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation.