What happened
On 2 November 2007, an Airbus A300-600, registration ZS-SNG, was performing a scheduled domestic service from O.R. Tambo International Aerodrome to Cape Town International Aerodrome. The flight, carrying 306 passengers and 17 crewmembers, completed a standard visual approach onto Runway 01 under clear weather conditions.
Following touchdown, the aircraft began decelerating. Due to ongoing construction at taxiway Alpha One, air traffic control instructed the crew to vacate Runway 01 by executing a right-hand turn toward Runway 16, proceeding to the threshold of Runway 34 and then onto taxiway Lima. During the initial phase of this turn, the crew noted that the engine thrust reversers had not been stowed and subsequently retracted them. Upon applying power to continue the maneuver, the nose wheel began scuffing against the asphalt. Despite the pilot-in-command being alerted to stop the aircraft multiple times by the first officer, the aircraft continued its trajectory and departed the paved runway surface to the left. The nose landing gear sank into the soft sand adjacent to the runway, and the aircraft eventually came to a halt 22m from the runway edge. There were 0 fatalities and 0 injuries.
The investigation
SACAA AIID examined the sequence of events following the excursion, noting that the aircraft was operating under a NOTAM that had correctly identified the closure of taxiway A1. The investigation reviewed the cockpit actions, specifically the application of power following the stowing of the thrust reversers and the steering inputs provided during the 150° turn. The investigation also confirmed that the weather was fine and the runway surface was dry at the time of the incident.