Runway excursion during maintenance at airport

No fatalities • Giallo, Libya • Landing (descent or approach)

An aircraft sustained significant damage after landing on a closed section of a runway undergoing surface maintenance.

What happened

During a period of scheduled maintenance, the 18/36 runway was decommissioned and unavailable for operations, leaving only runway 09/27 open to air traffic. During this time, the southern portion of the 18/36 strip had been partially excavated, leaving an open trench in the pavement.

An unidentified aircraft type approached the airfield and touched down on the closed section of runway 18/36. As the aircraft progressed along the center of the runway, it encountered a two-meter deep trench created by the ongoing construction. The impact with this depression caused the left main landing gear to collapse immediately. The aircraft subsequently slid along the surface until it came to a stop on its belly. There were no fatalities or injuries reported following the incident, though the airframe was determined to be a total loss.

Findings

Investigations into the event suggest that the landing on the closed runway resulted from errors in flight preparation or crew coordination, or a general misunderstanding of the active runway configuration.

Probable cause

The aircraft landed on a closed runway due to inadequate crew coordination or failure to properly prepare for the maintenance-altered airfield conditions.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1985-03-06 Fokker F27 Friendship accident near Giallo, Libya?

An aircraft sustained significant damage after landing on a closed section of a runway undergoing surface maintenance.

Were there any fatalities in the 1985-03-06 Fokker F27 Friendship accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1985-03-06 involved a Fokker F27 Friendship, registration 5A-DLR, operated by Libyan Arab Airlines, at Giallo, Libya.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The aircraft landed on a closed runway due to inadequate crew coordination or failure to properly prepare for the maintenance-altered airfield conditions.

Loading the flight search…