What happened
On 12 August 2007, a flight operating between Gimpo, Jeju, and Gimhae began its scheduled service. During the second leg of the day, while the aircraft was climbing through 9,500 feet, the crew observed the illumination of the rudder control and number two rudder hydraulic caution lights. The crew implemented procedures from the Quick Reference Handbook (QRH). While the hydraulic warning remained constant, the rudder control light flickered intermittently. Upon reaching a cruising altitude of 15,000 feet, the crew informed a mechanic at Gimhae Airport regarding the malfunctions and the actions taken.
During the approach to Gimhae, the crew was cleared for an ILS approach to runway 36L followed by a circling approach to runway 18R. As the aircraft transitioned from the final approach course to the downwind leg for the circling maneuver, several additional warnings—including elevator feel and pitch trim lights—illuminated on the warning panel. The crew did not take specific corrective measures for these lights, later characterizing them as nuisance warnings.
As the aircraft aligned with runway 18R, the wind was reported at 130 degrees with 13 knots, gusting to 18 knots. At approximately 09:38:08, just two feet above the runway surface, the pilot applied right rudder and moved the control wheel to the right. After the main landing gear touched down, the aircraft began drifting left toward the wind. In an attempt to correct the drift, the crew applied right rudder rather than left wing down input. Following the touchdown of the nose gear, the deceleration rate suddenly decreased. The aircraft exited the left side of the runway 3,500 feet before the runway end. The aircraft subsequently struck a concrete drainage ditch located 340 feet from the runway centerline and 4,600 feet from the runway end. There were 0 fatalities and 0 injuries reported as the crew initiated an emergency evacuation.
Findings
- The crew failed to address multiple illuminated warning lights, including rudder control and pitch trim, treating them as nuisance warnings.
- The pilot's control inputs during the landing phase, specifically applying right rudder instead of left wing down, contributed to the leftward drift and subsequent excursion.