Delta Air Lines A330 Touches Down Short of Runway at Amsterdam, Damaging Runway Lights

Amsterdam, Netherlands – On January 12th, 2023, a Delta Air Lines Airbus A330-300, registration N802NW, encountered a serious incident during its final approach to Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport. The aircraft, operating as flight DL-134 from Detroit, Michigan, touched down short of the intended runway 22 threshold, damaging two runway threshold lights and landing on the grass just before the paved surface. The aircraft safely rolled out and taxied to the apron without further incident, but the event prompted an immediate investigation by Dutch aviation authorities.

Incident Overview

The aircraft was on final approach to runway 22 at approximately 07:52 local time when the main landing gear touched down approximately 12 feet short of the runway threshold. As a result, two runway threshold lights were damaged, and the runway had to be closed for about an hour to repair the lighting system.

Despite the hard landing and the brief touchdown on the grass, the crew managed to keep the aircraft under control, and it taxied to the gate without further issues. However, the flight’s subsequent leg to Boston was canceled, and the aircraft remained on the ground for about 12 hours after the incident.

Investigation and Preliminary Findings

The Dutch Safety Board (DSB) quickly dispatched investigators to the scene to assess the situation. Initial reports indicated that the incident was caused by a combination of pilot perception and environmental factors. Specifically, the crew’s concern about the relatively short length of runway 22, especially under adverse weather conditions, may have contributed to the decision to attempt an early touchdown to avoid an overrun.

The final report released by the DSB in July 2024 concluded that the crew’s focus on avoiding a runway overrun led them to prioritize speed control over maintaining the proper glide path. As the aircraft descended, the pilots manually controlled the flight path after disengaging the autopilot at 240 feet radio altitude. This manual control led to a descent below the glide slope, which was not adequately corrected before touchdown.

The report also noted that fatigue might have played a role in the crew’s performance, particularly in maintaining the aircraft’s flight path. However, the exact extent of fatigue’s influence remains uncertain.

Analysis of Contributing Factors

The DSB’s analysis highlighted several key factors that contributed to the incident:

1. Runway Perception: The flight crew perceived runway 22 as shorter and potentially more challenging than it actually was. This perception led to an increased focus on avoiding an overrun, which contributed to the aircraft descending below the glide path.
2. Manual Control: After disengaging the autopilot, the captain’s manual inputs caused the aircraft to descend more rapidly than intended. The aircraft’s descent profile was not corrected in time, leading to the short touchdown.
3. Environmental Conditions: The approach occurred under challenging weather conditions, including gusty winds and low visibility, which may have further complicated the crew’s task of maintaining the correct approach profile.
4. Fatigue: While not definitively identified as the primary cause, fatigue was considered a potential factor that could have impaired the crew’s decision-making and ability to control the aircraft’s flight path.

Safety Implications and Recommendations

This incident underscores the importance of maintaining adherence to glide path protocols, particularly when operating under challenging conditions. The DSB’s findings suggest that the crew’s concern over a potential runway overrun was not balanced by an equally strong focus on avoiding an undershoot, which ultimately led to the incident.

As a result of this investigation, there are likely to be recommendations aimed at improving pilot training and awareness, particularly concerning the risks of both runway overruns and undershoots. Additionally, airlines may be encouraged to review their approach and landing procedures, especially for runways perceived as shorter or more challenging.

Conclusion

The incident involving Delta Air Lines flight DL-134 at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport serves as a reminder of the complexities and challenges of aircraft landing procedures, particularly in adverse weather conditions. The crew’s focus on preventing an overrun led to an unintentional undershoot, resulting in minor damage to the airport infrastructure but no injuries or significant damage to the aircraft.

The aviation community will likely study the findings of this incident to enhance safety protocols and ensure that such occurrences are prevented in the future. The lessons learned from this event will contribute to ongoing efforts to improve the safety and reliability of approach and landing operations worldwide.