MIAMI, UNITED STATES — A pilot repeatedly warned that an Amazon-contracted Boeing 767 was approaching too fast before the aircraft overran a Miami airport runway, according to preliminary cockpit and flight-data information released by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board.
The 21 Air-operated cargo flight crashed at Miami International Airport on Sept. 6 after overrunning Runway 30 during landing. Five people on the ground were killed and five others were injured. Both pilots survived.
The NTSB said Wednesday that one pilot cautioned the aircraft was too fast about 1 minute and 42 seconds before the end of the cockpit voice recording. The pilot continued making comments about excessive speed during the remainder of the recording, but investigators said there was no consistent verbal response from the other pilot.
The board stressed that the information remains preliminary and can change as the investigation continues.
Crew continued approach despite warnings
The cockpit recording shows a series of automated warnings as the aircraft descended toward the runway.
About 1 minute and 4 seconds before the end of the recording, the aircraft generated a “sink rate” warning. Another followed several seconds later. The aircraft then generated repeated “too low terrain” alerts as it continued its descent.
A pilot called for the flaps to be extended to 30 degrees about 41 seconds before the end of the recording. The aircraft touched down approximately 10 seconds later.
The flight-data recorder showed the nose and right main landing gear touched down at a groundspeed of 158 knots, or about 182 mph. The left main landing gear touched down shortly afterward at 134 knots.
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The aircraft was therefore already moving rapidly when it entered the runway landing sequence.
Go-around attempt came after touchdown
About 15 seconds before the end of the cockpit recording, a pilot called for a go-around.
Flight-data recorder information indicates that the aircraft’s brakes were released and its throttles were increased to a level consistent with go-around thrust when its groundspeed was about 120 knots. Four seconds later, however, the throttles were reduced to idle power and the brakes were reapplied.
The aircraft subsequently left the paved runway.
The NTSB said there was no indication in the recorded data that either the aircraft’s speed brakes or thrust reversers were deployed before the recording ended. The final recorded groundspeed was 65 knots.
The aircraft traveled roughly 1,300 feet beyond the runway before coming to rest after striking vehicles on the ground. Five people were killed in the crash, while five others were injured.
Investigation remains open
The NTSB has not determined a probable cause.
Investigators are examining the aircraft’s performance, weather conditions, crew actions and coordination, and the circumstances surrounding the late go-around attempt. The board has also said it will examine the pilots’ experience and training as part of the investigation.
The accident occurred during unsettled weather at Miami International Airport. Investigators are examining whether wind conditions and the aircraft’s approach contributed to the unstable landing.
The aircraft was a Boeing 767-33A operated by 21 Air on behalf of Amazon Air as Flight 7598. It was flying from San Juan, Puerto Rico, to Miami when the accident occurred.
The NTSB recovered both the cockpit voice recorder and flight-data recorder. The cockpit recorder contained more than two hours of audio, while the flight-data recorder contained about 54 hours of information and more than 400 recorded parameters.
Investigators are expected to conduct additional analysis before drawing conclusions about why the crew continued the approach despite the speed warnings and other alerts.
The full cockpit transcript has not yet been released.
For now, the NTSB’s preliminary evidence establishes the sequence of warnings, the high-speed touchdown and the late attempt to go around, but it does not establish why the crew made those decisions or assign responsibility for the crash.
Reporting Credit: National Transportation Safety Board — preliminary cockpit voice recorder and flight-data recorder findings, accident sequence and investigation status.
