Accident
On landing at Saarbrücken Airport, flight LH1745, operating on behalf of Lufthansa, touched down on runway 27. The runway surface was wet at the time. The crew initiated the braking procedure after touchdown. However, the aircraft could not stop within the remaining runway distance. It overran the runway and subsequently collided with several trees.
Aftermath
All 16 occupants were rescued from the aircraft. Two passengers sustained slight injuries. The aircraft sustained damage beyond repair.
Investigation
Investigators examined the braking performance during the landing. The wet runway condition resulted in a reduced braking coefficient. A detailed analysis of the reverse thrust systems revealed that only the reverser on engine number 2 had been activated. The reversers on engines number 1 and 3 were not deployed. The reason for the non-deployment of these two reversers could not be determined.
Probable Cause
The probable cause, as stated in the official findings, is that at the time of the accident the runway surface was wet and the braking coefficient was reduced. It was determined that only the reverse system on engine n°2 was activated. For an undetermined reason, reversers on engines n°1 and 3 were not deployed. In such conditions, braking action was poor.