Valuejet CRJ9 at Port Harcourt on Nov 14th 2023, runway excursion on vacating the runway

Last Update: December 14, 2023 / 17:14:21 GMT/Zulu time

Bookmark this article

Incident Facts

Date of incident
Nov 14, 2023

Classification
Incident

Airline
Valuejet (Nigeria)

Flight number
VK-226

Departure
Lagos, Nigeria

Destination
Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Aircraft Registration
5N-BXR

Aircraft Type
Canadair CL-600 Regional Jet CRJ-705

ICAO Type Designator
CRJ9

A Valuejet (Nigeria) Canadair CRJ-900, registration 5N-BXR performing flight VK-226 from Lagos to Port Harcourt (Nigeria) with 63 passengers and 5 crew, landed on Port Harcourt's runway 21, slowed to taxi speed and was to turn off the runway at the last exit when the aircraft skidded and went off the paved surface with all gear. There were no injuries, the aircraft received minor if any damage.

The airline reported that the aircraft had stopped on the runway and was subsequently about to turn off, however, due to algae on the turn off the aircraft skidded.

On Dec 14th 2023 Nigeria's NSIB released their preliminary report summarizing the decisive sequence of events:

At 15:18 h, FVJ0226 reported established on localizer, runway 21. ATC responded with, “Caution RWY surface wet, surface wind 330/06 kt RWY 21 cleared to land,” which the crew acknowledged. Landing Checks were accomplished and wipers switched off.

Aircraft annunciation announced “minimums”. Descending past 200 ft, the CVR captured auto pilot disengagement aural warning.

After touchdown, the PM called out 90 kts, and the PF called for After Landing checks and that the flaps should be retracted.

Shortly afterwards, the PM was heard warning the PF not to turn. The PF responded that he was unable to turn.

ATC called the aircraft on the radio and the PM responded with information that the aircraft had skidded off the runway. At 15:24 h, the Tower called the Watchroom to report the occurrence, which in turn relayed the message to the Fire Service.

...

During post occurrence inspection, the aircraft was found at the end of runway 21, in the grass verge adjacent to Link A5. During the post occurrence interview, the crew reported that the choice of Link A5 for exiting the runway was due unsuitable runway surface conditions at Link A4 (Rapid Exit).

Available METARs:
DNPO 141500Z 00000KT 9999 TS SW BKN007 FEW018CB 26/25 Q1007 NOSIG=
DNPO 141400Z 20003KT 1500 TSRA BKN007 FEW018CB 24/24 Q1008 BECMG 3000 -TSRA=
DNPO 140800Z 17003KT 9999 FEW008 27/25 Q1011 NOSIG=