Runway excursion of aircraft at Southampton following wind shear and braking issues

No fatalities • Southampton, United Kingdom • Landing (descent or approach)

An aircraft arriving from Istanbul overran the runway at Southampton after encountering wind shear and experiencing ineffective braking during landing.

What happened

During a flight originating from Istanbul and destined for Southampton, the aircraft performed a procedural ILS approach and touched down on runway 20. During the final approach phase, the crew encountered wind shear, which resulted in a 10-knot reduction in airspeed, prompting an increase in engine power to maintain stability. The aircraft made contact with the runway approximately 500 feet from the threshold.

Following touchdown, the crew found that applying maximum braking force did not effectively decelerate the aircraft. Suspecting the presence of aquaplaning, the crew attempted to utilize reverse thrust; however, they did not receive a cockpit indication confirming that the thrust reversers had deployed correctly, leading them to believe the system was non-functional. The aircraft continued to travel down the runway, with the crew attempting to steer the plane along the remaining 1,500 feet of pavement. Ultimately, the aircraft exited the runway and came to a stop 75 meters into the adjacent grass area. The excursion caused the engines to ingest earth and stones, and the right wing fuel tank sustained a puncture.

Findings

An inspection of the runway surface conducted 10 minutes prior to the incident noted that while the runway was wet, there was no evidence of standing water. Friction testing performed at 1646 hrs recorded Mu values of 0.67, 0.66, and 0.57 across the first, second, and third runway segments, respectively. The primary factor in the excursion was the ineffective braking and unconfirmed deployment of reverse thrust following the encounter with wind shear.

Probable cause

The aircraft overran the runway due to a combination of wind shear-induced airspeed loss and the inability to effectively use braking and reverse thrust during the landing roll.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1992-11-27 Lockheed L-1329 JetStar accident near Southampton, United Kingdom?

An aircraft arriving from Istanbul overran the runway at Southampton after encountering wind shear and experiencing ineffective braking during landing.

Were there any fatalities in the 1992-11-27 Lockheed L-1329 JetStar accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1992-11-27 involved a Lockheed L-1329 JetStar, registration N6NE, operated by Aerospace Finance Leasing, at Southampton, United Kingdom.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The aircraft overran the runway due to a combination of wind shear-induced airspeed loss and the inability to effectively use braking and reverse thrust during the landing roll.

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