What happened
On November 10, 2018, a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight, operating as PIA 517, arrived at Panjgur Airport from Karachi. The aircraft, an ATR 72-500 with registration AP-BKY, was carrying 61 passengers and crew.
During the approach to Runway 31, the aircraft encountered a tailwind component of approximately 10 knots. The flight crew conducted a high-speed approach, with speeds ranging between 118 and 135 knots, significantly exceeding the calculated approach speed of 107 knots. The aircraft touched down approximately halfway down the runway at a speed of 116 knots.
Upon realizing the extended touchdown distance, the captain initially attempted a rejected landing by advancing the throttles; however, after applying brakes and then retarding the power, the captain decided to continue the landing roll. The aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining runway length, eventually departing the paved surface and coming to a rest 400 feet beyond the runway end, 100 feet to the right of the centerline. There were no injuries to the 61 occupants.
The investigation
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Board (AAIB) of Pakistan examined several contributing factors regarding the aircraft's configuration and the crew's decision-making. Investigators found that the aircraft was operating with one brake assembly deactivated in accordance with the Minimum Equipment List (MEL). However, the weight calculations for landing with an inoperative brake were not properly adjusted for the tailwind conditions, resulting in the aircraft being 520 kg over the permitted landing weight.
Additionally, the investigation revealed that the approach was unstable due to excessive speed. The crew also noted the presence of an unauthorized microwave antenna tower located in the takeoff path, which influenced the captain's decision not to attempt a go-around after the initial rejected landing attempt.