NTSB Details 21 Air 767 Runway Overrun at Miami

The National Transportation Safety Board has detailed how 21 Air Flight 7598 overran a runway at Miami International Airport on September 6, striking ground vehicles and killing five people. The preliminary report states the local control south operator issued a landing clearance without providing required wind information, despite a tailwind component existing at the time.

The aircraft touched down about 3,750 feet beyond the runway threshold. Its touchdown speed was roughly 160 knots, or 184 mph. The Boeing 767-33A(ER) overran the runway and left the pavement while traveling about 130 mph. It struck airport equipment and a Ford Econoline van carrying plane-cleaning workers, killing the five people inside. The aircraft then broke through the airport perimeter fence and hit a car on a public road. An individual in a Toyota SUV sustained serious injuries, as did two other van occupants and the car driver. The 32-year-old freighter came to rest with its nose against a parking-lot fence. The two pilots suffered only minor injuries.

Approach and landing performance

The flight crew received repeated automated and verbal warnings about excessive speed and low altitude but did not consistently respond. Recorder findings showed the first officer repeatedly warned the captain, who was flying the aircraft, that they were moving too fast during the approach. There was not a consistent verbal response to these speed warnings. The crew also received multiple automated alerts. Twice, a warning system stated 'sink rate'. In the 17 seconds before touching down, the pilots were told on five occasions 'too low terrain'.

The aircraft was about 105 feet above ground level at a ground speed of 177 knots as it crossed the threshold of the 9,360-foot-long runway 30. It touched down about 3,750 feet past that threshold, leaving approximately 2,730 feet of runway remaining. Flight data showed the wheel brakes were manually applied at a groundspeed of 146 knots but were released about eight seconds later at 120 knots. The throttles then increased to a setting consistent with go-around thrust, indicating the pilots briefly attempted to abort the landing after touchdown. The airplane had about 930 feet of runway remaining at that point.

About four seconds later, with roughly 415 feet of pavement left, the throttles were returned to idle and the brakes were reapplied at 117 knots. The aircraft departed the runway at 113 knots. There was no indication that the aircraft's speed brakes or thrust reversers were deployed during the entire landing and rollout sequence.

Air traffic control and regulatory context

The controller did not give wind information to the 21 Air crew. Federal regulations require controllers to state wind direction and velocity when authorizing use of a runway with a tailwind component. About four minutes before clearing Flight 7598 to land, the same controller provided another aircraft with wind information that included gusts from the south of up to 25 mph. The specific winds provided were from 190 degrees at 19 knots with gusts to 22 knots.

After overrunning the pavement, the airplane impacted the localizer and MALSR navigation aids at the northwest end of runway 30. 21 Air stated it is reviewing the preliminary report and its safety and operational procedures and will take appropriate action as facts are established. The aircraft was operating for Amazon Air on a flight arriving from San Juan, Puerto Rico, carrying about 32,000 pounds of cargo, mostly contact lenses. Amazon suspended its partnership with 21 Air following the crash.

The NTSB investigation could take more than a year to complete.