What happened
On the afternoon of the incident, United Express Flight 3363, an operated by Trans States Airlines LLC (TSA), was arriving at Ottawa/Macdonald-Cartier International Airport from Chicago O’Hare. Due to company restrictions regarding landing on Runway 07/25 during wet conditions and forecasted rain, the crew opted for an ILS approach to Runway 32. During the final approach, heavy rainfall significantly reduced visibility.
As the aircraft approached the threshold, the crew increased engine thrust to compensate for a perceived increase in descent rate. This resulted in a float, where the aircraft type/model touched down 2700 feet beyond the threshold and briefly became airborne again before a second touchdown occurred at 3037 feet. Following the second contact, the aircraft began to skid on the wet surface. The pilot applied maximum braking, but the aircraft continued to slide, eventually veering left of the runway centerline.
The aircraft traveled approximately 8120 feet from the threshold before the nosewheel exited the paved surface. After coming to a stop, the crew identified a fuel leak during an inspection by airport rescue and firefighting services. This led to an emergency evacuation of all passengers and crew. There were 0 fatalities and no reported injuries.
Findings
Investigation into the event identified several contributing factors:
- Heavy rainfall created a layer of water on the runway, leading to hydroplaning.
- The approach speed exceeded company limits for a stabilized approach.
- The crew failed to initiate a go-around despite the airspeed being above recommended levels.
- Applying maximum engine thrust just before touchdown contributed to the long landing distance.
- The application of the emergency/parking brake disabled the anti-skid system, which prolonged the skid.
- Underinflated tires and a soft touchdown further facilitated the loss of control.