NTSB Releases Transcript Of CVR In Runway Excursion Incident

The NTSB late last week released the Cockpit Voice Recorder transcript from American Airlines flight 2253, which overran runway 19 upon landing at Jackson Hole Airport  in Wyoming (KJAC) on December 29, 2010.

Preliminary reports indicate that the airplane came to rest approximately 350 feet past the runway overrun area. There were no injuries to the 179 passengers and 6 crew on board, and preliminary reports indicate that the airplane was undamaged. Passengers were deplaned using airstairs, and the airplane was towed to the ramp and secured for further examination. A solid-state cockpit voice recorder (CVR) was sent to the National Transportation Safety Board’s Audio Laboratory for readout. The CVR group meeting convened on January 4, 2011 and a partial transcript was prepared for a 2 minute 3 second portion of the recording 46 minutes 22 seconds before the end of the recording. Additionally, a transcript was prepared for the final 31 minutes 3 seconds of the 2-hour 4 minute 31 second digital recording.

During the approach, controllers told the aircrew that a Challenger had reported that the braking action on the first two thirds of the runway were good, but classified it as "poor" on the last third. A departing Pilatus reported bases as 6,900 feet, trace rime ice from 13,000 to 15,000 and negative turbulence in the climb. The flight crew told the controller to expect to see them braking hard on the first third of the runway after landing.

Just after touchdown, the first officer says "no reverse," in what the investigators indicated was a voice that was "strained." The flight crew did what they could to slow the 757 down, but wound up going off the end of the runway and through the overrun area. Fortunately, when the airplane came to a stop, no one was injured and the passengers were able to deplane using airstairs.

A factual report released previously indicated that there had been a significant buildup of ice within the reverser assemblies of both engines. Investigators are also looking at the airplane's braking system.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov