What happened
During a non-precision instrument approach to runway 15R at Boston-Logan International Airport, the aircraft touched down significantly past the displaced threshold, approximately 2,800 feet beyond the usable portion of the 9,191-foot runway. While attempting to avoid an approach light pier located at the departure end of the runway, the plane veered off the pavement and slid into the shallow waters of Boston Harbor. The impact with a shore embankment caused the nose section of the fuselage to detach from the rest of the aircraft.
Of the 212 persons on board, there were 2 fatalities (missing and presumed dead), while the remaining passengers and crew evacuated the vessel, with some sustaining injuries.
Findings
Investigation into the accident identified several contributing factors related to runway conditions and operational communication. The primary cause was the minimal braking effectiveness on the ice-covered runway, compounded by the captain's decision to maintain an excessive airspeed due to the auto throttle system, which led to the long touchdown point.
Additional findings included:
- A failure by airport management to properly assess runway conditions to ensure safe landing operations.
- Air traffic control's failure to relay the most recent pilot reports regarding braking action to the flight crew.
- Inadequate systems for reporting reliable information regarding braking effectiveness on contaminated surfaces.
- Lack of standardized procedures for measuring runway slipperiness and evaluating whether to close runways due to ice or snow.
- Insufficient regulatory requirements for operators to provide crews with data correlating braking effectiveness with necessary stopping distances.