What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2018-07-28 involved an aircraft, at VN.

Runway excursion at Noi Bai International Airport involving Airbus A321

On July 28, 2018, an aircraft was involved in an aviation accident near VN. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft veered off the runway due to hydroplaning on a wet surface and increasing crosswinds, exacerbated by the crew's failure to execute a go-around during deteriorating weather and a lack of proper communication during manual flight control… This summary draws on records from the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV).

An Airbus A321 veered off the runway during a heavy rain landing at Noi Bai International Airport, resulting in minor aircraft damage and broken runway lights.

What happened

On July 28, 2018, an Airbus A321, registration VN-A336, operated by Vietnam Airlines, was performing a commercial flight from Phu Bai International Airport to Noi Bai International Airport. During the approach to runway 11L, the aircraft encountered heavy rain and rapidly deteriorating visibility.

As the aircraft descended below 25 feet, the crew was unable to maintain the runway centerline due to the lack of centerline lights and the onset of heavy rain. Upon touchdown, the aircraft experienced hydroplaning on the wet surface. A sudden increase in crosswind components, reaching up to 22 knots, pushed the aircraft to the left. The left main gear drifted off the pavement and onto the grass, traveling approximately 360 meters along the runway edge. During this excursion, the aircraft struck and destroyed four runway edge lights. The crew eventually regained control and taxied the aircraft back to the apron safely. No injuries were reported, and passengers were disembarked normally.

The investigation

The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) classified the event as a high-risk safety incident (Level C). Investigators analyzed flight data recorder (FDR) and cockpit voice recorder (CVR) data, reviewed air traffic control communications, and interviewed the flight crew. The investigation also included a technical inspection of the aircraft by VAECO engineers, which identified scratches on the fuselage and damage to the nose and main landing gear components.

Findings

The primary cause of the excursion was hydroplaning on the wet runway combined with increasing crosswinds that pushed the aircraft off the centerline.
The flight crew demonstrated poor situational awareness, failing to initiate a go-around despite the deteriorating weather conditions and visibility.
The pilot in command failed to follow Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) by not announcing "I have control" during a manual intervention, resulting in dual inputs from both pilots on the controls.
The lack of runway centerline lighting at the time contributed to the crew's inability to detect the lateral deviation during the final stages of the approach.

Probable cause

The aircraft veered off the runway due to hydroplaning on a wet surface and increasing crosswinds, exacerbated by the crew's failure to execute a go-around during deteriorating weather and a lack of proper communication during manual flight control intervention.

2018-07-28: — VN