Runway excursion at Varna Airport involving passenger aircraft

No fatalities • Varna, Bulgaria • Landing (descent or approach)

An aircraft experienced a runway overrun at Varna Airport during landing in heavy rain, resulting in minor injuries but no fatalities.

What happened

During an approach to Varna Airport, an aircraft encountered challenging meteorological conditions characterized by heavy rainfall and significantly reduced visibility. Upon touchdown on the wet surface of runway 27, the aircraft failed to decelerate sufficiently within the available runway length. This resulted in a runway excursion where the aircraft overran the paved surface. During the event, the nose landing gear was lost, and the aircraft eventually came to a halt.

There were 134 people on board at the time of the incident. While the evacuation of the passengers and crew was successful, the accident resulted in several minor injuries among the occupants. The aircraft, which was a total loss, was subsequently written off.

Findings

Investigations into the incident identified that the primary factor was the inability to stop on the wet runway due to the combination of heavy precipitation and the distance from which the landing was initiated.

Probable cause

The aircraft overran the runway due to insufficient braking action on a wet surface during heavy rain.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1992-06-05 Tupolev TU-154 accident near Varna, Bulgaria?

An aircraft experienced a runway overrun at Varna Airport during landing in heavy rain, resulting in minor injuries but no fatalities.

Were there any fatalities in the 1992-06-05 Tupolev TU-154 accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1992-06-05 involved a Tupolev TU-154, registration LZ-BTD, operated by Balkan Bulgarian Airlines, at Varna, Bulgaria.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The aircraft overran the runway due to insufficient braking action on a wet surface during heavy rain.

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