Runway excursion at Mashhad Airport involving Boeing 737

No fatalities • Mashhad, Iran • Landing (descent or approach)

A flight arriving from Isfahan veered off the runway at Mashhad Airport during a night approach in heavy snow, resulting in no fatalities but significant aircraft damage.

What happened

During a night arrival at Mashhad Airport, an aircraft traveling from Isfahan encountered challenging weather conditions characterized by snowfall and reduced visibility. As the crew prepared for landing on runway 31R, the environmental conditions remained poor.

Upon completing the landing, the crew engaged the braking systems and utilized reverse thrust to decelerate. During this phase, the aircraft began to skid and subsequently drifted to the left side of the runway. The excursion continued until the aircraft moved approximately 1,311 metres past the runway threshold. During the event, the aircraft sustained damage to both main landing gear components and eventually came to a stop 55 metres from the edge of the runway.

Despite the severity of the excursion, all 162 occupants were able to evacuate the aircraft without injury. The aircraft itself sustained damage that rendered it a total loss.

Findings

  • The incident occurred during the landing roll following touchdown on runway 31R.
  • Snowfall and low visibility were present during the approach and landing phase.
  • The aircraft lost both main undercarriage components during the veer off the runway.

Probable cause

The aircraft veered off the runway during the landing roll due to skidding in snowy, low-visibility conditions.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2016-01-28 McDonnell Douglas MD-83 accident near Mashhad, Iran?

A flight arriving from Isfahan veered off the runway at Mashhad Airport during a night approach in heavy snow, resulting in no fatalities but significant aircraft damage.

Were there any fatalities in the 2016-01-28 McDonnell Douglas MD-83 accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2016-01-28 involved a McDonnell Douglas MD-83, registration EP-ZAB, operated by Zagros Airlines, at Mashhad, Iran.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The aircraft veered off the runway during the landing roll due to skidding in snowy, low-visibility conditions.

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