What happened
On 27 January 2014, a Sriwijaya Air Boeing 737-300, registration PK-CKL, was operating a scheduled passenger flight from Balikpapan to Juanda International Airport in Surabaya. During the final approach for runway 28, the flight crew encountered hazy weather conditions. At an altitude of approximately 600 feet, the pilots observed a dark, reflective surface that they misidentified as the active runway.
As the aircraft descended, the crew noted various objects on the surface and queried air traffic control. However, the aircraft continued its descent, flying at an altitude of less to 50 feet over taxiway SP2 for approximately 29 seconds before touching down on the taxiway instead of the runway. There were no injuries to the 155 persons on board and no damage was sustained by the aircraft.
The investigation
The KNKT investigation focused on the cockpit environment, the visibility conditions, and the dissemination of aeronautical information. Investigators examined flight data recorder (FDR) and cockpit voice recorder (CVR) data, which revealed that the aircraft's heading changed shortly before the touchdown.
The inquiry also looked into the distribution of Notices to Airmen (NOTAM). It was established that a valid NOTAM existed regarding the closure of taxiway SP2 for maintenance work; however, the flight crew had not received or reviewed this information prior to arrival. Furthermore, the investigation reviewed a hazard report submitted by a different airline pilot 30 days earlier, which had warned of the specific risk of mistaking the taxiway for the runway during VOR/DME approaches.
Findings
- The airport environment and the specific condition of the taxiway approach created a visual illusion, making the SP2 taxiway appear brighter and more like a runway than the actual active runway.
- The flight crew failed to execute a go-around despite encountering uncertain visual conditions during the approach.
- There was a lack of operator standard operating procedures (SOP) regarding mandatory go-around requirements when encountering uncertain landing conditions.
- The crew was unaware of the current NOTAM regarding the status of taxiway SP2 because the information was not effectively communicated to them prior to the flight.