Incident Overview
On August 25, 1397 (Iranian calendar), Taban Air Flight TBN6225, an MD-88 with registration EP-TBC, encountered significant operational challenges while approaching Payam Airport near Karaj. The flight originated from Mashhad and was intended to land on Runway 30. During the final approach phase, the crew initiated two separate go-around maneuvers before successfully landing.
Operational Details
The aircraft received clearance for a VOR/DME approach to Runway 30. Radar data indicated that at approximately 07:56 UTC, the flight was at 4,100 feet and four nautical miles from the airport when the first go-around was declared. The crew subsequently re-entered the traffic pattern, reporting a left base position before declaring a second go-around. Finally, at 08:02 UTC, the pilot reported normal conditions on the runway, and the aircraft taxied off via Taxiway B.
Safety and Regulatory Findings
The investigation revealed that the co-pilot, who was flying the approach, held a Commercial Pilot License (CPL#3900) that had expired 13 days prior to the incident. Additionally, the crew did not report a verbal mention of VOR system fluctuation in the Aircraft Technical Log (ATL). The Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System (EGPWS) triggered multiple alerts for excessive descent rates and terrain proximity during the unstable approaches. Despite these events, there were no injuries among the 9 crew members and 152 passengers, and no physical damage was recorded to the aircraft.