History of the Flight
On 16 May 2019 at 02:30 UTC, an IL-76 aircraft operated by POUYA AIR, registration EP-PUS, departed Tehran Mehrabad International Airport as a nonscheduled cargo flight bound for Yerevan Zvartnots International Airport. The pilot-in-command on the left seat was the pilot flying. The flight climbed to FL300 and exited Tehran FIR at 03:54 UTC. At 04:18 UTC, the flight was cleared to descend to 5,100 ft for an ILS approach to runway 09. At approximately 04:25, about 6 nautical miles on final, the flight was cleared to land by the tower controller. The aircraft landed on runway 09 and passed the defined temporary runway end marking, causing the main wheels to collide with runway end lights. At 04:29 UTC, the tower controller instructed the pilot to stop, and the pilot acknowledged.
Injuries to Persons
Nine crew members were on board. No injuries were reported.
Damage to Aircraft
No damage to the aircraft.
Other Damages
One elevated runway end light was damaged by the aircraft's wheels.
Personnel Information
The pilot flying was a 51-year-old Iranian male holding an ATPL with a valid medical certificate, proficiency check, and type rating on the IL-76. His total flight time was approximately 7,800 hours, including 3,210 hours on the IL-76. The pilot monitoring was a 55-year-old Iranian male holding an ATPL with a valid medical certificate, proficiency check, and type rating on the IL-76. His total flight time was 4,955 hours, including about 3,000 hours on type.
Aircraft Information
The IL-76, serial number 09321 and registration EP-PUS, was manufactured in 1991. Its airworthiness certificate (No. 91318) was valid until 23 October 2019. Review of recent records revealed no significant malfunctions. According to the Quick Reference Handbook for this type, a landing distance of 2,100 m is required for a mass of 151 tonnes on a dry runway with full engine reverse, brakes, and 43 degrees of flap. NOTAM 0058 indicated the declared landing distance available (LDA) for runway 09 was 2,400 m.
Meteorological Information
The METAR for UDYZ at 04:00 UTC reported wind 12003 kt, visibility 10 km, no significant cloud, temperature 19°C, dew point 6°C, and QNH 1016. The weather had no effect on the event.
Aids to Navigation
According to NOTAM A0058/19 and A0060/19, PAPI for runway 27 was out of service, and the ILS for runway 09 was out of service.
Communications
No communication problems were reported. The air traffic control transcript was provided. Key communications included the approach controller informing the pilot of the displacement of the runway 27 threshold by 1,450 m, and the tower controller clearing the aircraft to land on runway 09 and later instructing it to stop.
Airport Information
Zvartnots International Airport (UDYZ/EVN) is located 10 km west of Yerevan. The runway dimensions are 3,850 m by 56 m (asphalt). At the time of the incident, the available runway length was 2,400 m (3,850 m excluding a displaced threshold of 1,450 m). White arrow markings and elevated lights were present on the displaced threshold. NOTAM A0058/19 declared distances: TORA 2,400 m, TODA 2,850 m, ASDA 2,850 m, LDA 2,400 m for runway 09.
Flight Recorders
The aircraft was equipped with a digital flight data recorder (DFDR) and a cockpit voice recorder (CVR). The DFDR was downloaded successfully. The CVR was serviceable, but cockpit voices related to the incident were lost. The DFDR data showed that the aircraft landed normally, but the pilot's actions were based on the assumption of a 3,850 m runway. The pilot did not use full engine reverse, having calculated based on the longer runway length, which led to the overrun on the displaced threshold.
Wreckage and Impact Information
Visual inspection revealed no deflection on the airframe or control surfaces. There was evidence of contact between the main landing gear tire and an elevated threshold light.
Medical and Pathological Information
Alcohol tests for both pilots, requested by Armenian authorities immediately after the occurrence, were negative.
Fire
No fire occurred.
Survival Aspects
No one was injured.
Organizational and Management Information
POUYA AIR is an Iranian airline providing passenger and cargo services, including domestic and international flights.
Analysis
The pre-flight briefing by the dispatcher included the NOTAM, but the crew's briefings were insufficient and ineffective. The crew did not adequately focus on the declared LDA of 2,400 m as per NOTAM A0058/19, incorrectly assuming that the displaced threshold of runway 27 did not affect LDA for runway 09, and that 3,850 m was available. The aircraft was vectored for an ILS approach to runway 09 despite the NOTAM stating the ILS was out of service. The pilot landed normally but lost the initial portion of runway 09. While rolling out, the aircraft encountered a row of elevated lights across the runway, which were not separately notified via a standard NOTAM. The pilot chose to continue without immediate braking to avoid gear damage, colliding with the lights and passing the runway end marking.