Created Saturday, Sep 9th 2023 07:52Z, last updated Thursday, Dec 21st 2023 16:49Z
A United Nigeria Airlines Embraer ERJ-145, registration 5N-BWY performing flight U5-513 from Owerri to Lagos (Nigeria) with 46 passengers and 4 crew, landed on Lagos' runway 18R in heavy rain at about 18:33L (17:33Z) but went off the runway. There were no injuries, the aircraft received minimal if any damage.
Nigeria's AIB opened an investigation into the occurrence reporting the ERJ-145 from Owerri to Lagos skidded off the runway 18R while landing in Lagos.
The airline reported the aircraft went off the runway due to heavy downpour.
On Dec 20th 2023 the Nigerian NSIB released their preliminary report reporting the captain (63, ATPL, 13,971 hours total, 1,574 hours on type) was pilot flying and the first officer (39, CPL, 615 hours total, 331 hours on type) pilot monitoring. The NSIB, upon arriving after being notified about the occurrence, found the aircraft at "Runway 18L/36R, End Safety
Area, of Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos".
The NSIB summarized the sequence of events:
According to the crew, “on approach LOS, on the weather Radar, the system was approaching LOS, but ATIS did not change”. The pilot stated, “I reckoned the weather system was high cumulonimbus and LOS was clear”. On contact Lagos Control, aircraft was cleared for an ILS approach to runway 18L. There was moderate to heavy rain during approach and landing. The pilot stated that “although we were visual to the runway at about 300 ft AGL (100 ft above decision altitude, we continued the approach).”
At about 19:32 h, landing clearance was issued to NUA0513. The pilot of preceding landing traffic (APK7183) informed NUA0513 she experienced a tail wind of about 9 knots and the rain was heavy, NUA0513 acknowledged. The reported weather; visibility of 5 km in light rain and thunderstorm.
At about 19:33 h, NUA0513 was observed by ATC to have touched down at the middle of runway 18L. According to the crew, there was water on the runway surface, “the aircraft started skidding to the right and tried to keep on the runway, tried to stop the airplane but unable to, until we overran the runway at the end of the runway”. He further stated that, “the aircraft kept skidding until we passed the clearway and eventually stopped on the grass.”
At 19:36 h, Tower requested details of the flight from the pilot of the NUA0513, the pilot reported overunning the runway. Crash alarm Bell sounded immediately. MMFO2, MMFO3 were informed. Runway 18L was closed.
The NSIB listed, amongst others, the following preliminary findings:
- The CVR and FDR were recovered in good condition and recordings were intact after the occurrence.
- Tower observed NUA0513 landed about the midpoint of runway 18L.
- NUA0513 during landing roll, exited runway 18L and travelled a further distance of about 260 m into the grass verge.
- The pilot of preceding landing traffic (APK7183) informed NUA0513 that she experienced a tail wind of about 9 knots and the rain was heavy.
- The aircraft got stuck in the grass verge at a distance of about 1,860 m after exiting runway 18L.
All available Metars:
DNMM 081700Z 24009KT 9999 SCT012 FEW020CB 28/25 Q1012 NOSIG=
DNMM 081600Z 22012KT 9999 BKN013 FEW020CB 29/25 Q1012 NOSIG=
DNMM 081400Z 23015KT 9999 BKN014 FEW020CB 31/26 Q1012 NOSIG=
