CRJ 700, registered F-GRZE, flight AF 5937, 16 October 2012, Lorient Lann Bihoué Airport
INFORMATION ON 24 OCTOBER 2012
Circumstances of the accident: On Tuesday 16 October 2012 at 21h22 (19h22 UTC), the CRJ700 overran runway 25.
The crew was cleared for an ILS RWY 25 approach.
During the descent, the controller informed the crew that the wind was 160° at 16 kt, gusting to 26 kt, reduced visibility of between 2,000 and 3,000 metres, a wet runway with water puddles, presence of a strong squall lasting about an hour, in addition to some difficulties in controllability and some aquaplaning on landing, as reported by the previous aeroplane.
The crew made the approach with a flaps 30° configuration due to a suspicion of windshear.
The ILS 25 approach was stable and speed was around 150 kt. The autopilot was disconnected at around 500 ft. The aeroplane’s main landing gear touched down about 1,100 metres from the end of the runway. The aeroplane exited the runway, struck the LOC antennas with the left wing and came to a stop in a grass field about 200 metres from the threshold of runway 07.
Runway 25 has an LDA of 2,230 metres. It has side lighting but the runway centreline does not have illuminated markings.
An emergency evacuation was ordered. The 53 passengers evacuated by the forward left door and the over-wing exits under instructions from the cabin crew.
INFORMATION ON 17 OCTOBER 2012
The BEA has just instituted a safety investigation following a runway excursion by a CRJ 700 during landing at Lorient Lann Bihoué Airport at around 21h30. The aeroplane, operated by Brit Air, which was flying the Paris Orly – Lorient route, had 53 passengers and 4 crew members on board. No injuries were reported.
A team of four BEA investigators is currently at the scene.
The BEA is the French Civil Aviation Safety Investigation Authority. Its investigations are conducted with the sole objective of improving aviation safety and are not intended to apportion blame or liability.
BEA investigations are independent, separate and conducted without prejudice to any judicial or administrative action that may be taken to determine blame or liability.
