History of the Flight
The aircraft, a Britten-Norman BN2A-26 Islander registered VP-MON, was conducting a scheduled passenger flight from VC Bird Airport, Antigua, to John A Osborne Airport, Montserrat. The departure and cruise were uneventful. As the aircraft approached Montserrat, the air traffic control officer (ATCO) instructed the pilot to join left-hand downwind for Runway 10, reporting wind from 090° at 5 kt. Three minutes later, the ATCO advised wind from 360° at 3 kt. The pilot initially requested an approach to Runway 10 but, after being informed of clouds at approximately 600 ft above aerodrome level drifting from the west and visibility of about 6 km, he requested Runway 28. He was cleared to land on Runway 28 with a surface wind from 300° at 4 kt.
The pilot stated that he touched down in the area of the Runway 28 identification numbers. After applying the brakes, the aircraft skidded. The commander decided to perform a touch-and-go and positioned for another approach to Runway 28. On short final during the second approach, the ATCO reported wind from 320° at 3 kt. The pilot touched down just past the runway threshold marker; the aircraft skidded again when brakes were applied. He elected to continue the landing roll, pumping the brakes, but judged he might overrun the runway. He steered the aircraft right onto the grass verge approximately 156 m from the end of the paved surface. The aircraft came to rest on the grass approximately 46 m from the end of the runway. The pilot and witnesses described the runway as 'damp'.
After shutdown, the pilot and passengers vacated the aircraft. Passengers were driven to the terminal; the pilot later taxied the aircraft to the apron without ATC permission. The following morning, the pilot flew the aircraft empty to Anguilla for scheduled maintenance.
Weather Information
The Terminal Aerodrome Forecast issued at 1000 hrs on 22 May 2011 expected calm wind and visibility exceeding 10 km, with scattered cloud at 2,200 ft. There was a 30% chance of rain showers between 1200 hrs on 22 May and 1200 hrs on 23 May. Reported conditions at 2100 hrs included surface wind from 110° at 12 kt, visibility over 10 km, broken cloud at 1,600 ft, temperature 26°C, dew point 25°C, and QNH 1014 mb. Rain was present at the aerodrome and to the west. At 2200 hrs, surface wind was from 320° at 4 kt, visibility 6 km, with light rain showers and thunderstorms, broken cloud at 600 ft, and few cumulonimbus at 1,000 ft. Temperature and dew point were both 25°C, QNH 1015 mb.
Runway Inspection
The runway was inspected by the local Accident Investigation Manager and later by the AAIB. A skid mark approximately 24 m long made by the aircraft’s right main tyres started about 191 m from the beginning of the paved area of Runway 28 (163 m from the threshold), 12 m before the Runway 28 Abbreviated PAPIs. Tyre marks continued until the left and right marks left the paved surface about 115 m and 148 m from the end, respectively.
Pilot Experience
The pilot of VP-MON had over 2,000 hours on the Britten-Norman Islander and began working for the operator on 11 May 2011. On 13 May 2011, he successfully completed a flight check to operate at Montserrat, but only takeoffs and landings from Runway 10 were completed. This incident occurred on his first landing on Runway 28.
Previous Serious Landing Incident
On 17 April 2011, another Britten-Norman Islander (VP-MNI) operated by the same company departed the side of the runway at John A Osborne Airport after a landing on Runway 10. The pilot applied brakes but had no response from the right brake pedal. To avoid overrunning, he allowed the aircraft to turn left onto grass, striking an embankment. Damage included the nose structure and left wing tip. Seven passengers exited safely. Investigation revealed trapped air in the right brake hydraulic line; an O-ring seal had been replaced prior to the flight, and brakes had tested correctly afterward. That investigation was ongoing and focused on brake maintenance procedures.