Pegasus Airlines Flight 8622 – Trabzon – Turkey

Aviation history is unfortunately full of many accidents. Some of these accidents are fatal. However, in some accidents, there is no loss of life. After such accidents, valuable inferences can be made as a result of research. Let’s take a look at the accident that Pegasus Airlines flight 8622 experienced in Trabzon/Turkey on January 14, 2018.

Pegasus Airlines B737-86j – Zeynep

Pegasus Airlines flight 8622 was a departure from Ankara to destination Trabzon. The aircraft was of the Boeing 737-86J type. The plane was named “Zeynep” by Pegasus Airlines. The aircraft Zeynep was received from the manufacturer on December 1, 2012. Then, after the necessary controls, it made its first flight on November 15, 2012. The plane was a little over 5 years old when the accident happened. Zeynep had 2 CFMI CFM56-7B26E engines. The serial number of the aircraft was 40879, the registration/tail number was TC-CPF.

Pegasus Airlines Flight 8622

Flight 8622 took off from Ankara Esenboğa Airport on January 14, 2018 at 22:33 local time. The plane started its descend and approach on runway 11 of Trabzon Airport at 23:25 local time. According to the weather reports that day, the runway was wet due to the rain that started three hours before landing. Visibility decreased to 4000 meters due to meteorological reasons.

 After landing, the plane skidded off the runway as it could not stop at the end of the runway. The plane that came off the runway started to slide on the grass. The B737 stopped on the sea side slope of the runway. As a result of the accident, 162 passengers and 6 crew members were evacuated without any casualties. During the accident, the right engine of the plane broke off and fell into the sea. The aircraft was heavily damaged due to the accident. The B737 then towed to a safe location 20 hours later. Trabzon airport, which was closed to flights after the accident, was reopened to flights at 9 am local time a day later.

After the accident, the pilots gave their statements about the incident. The pilot said they landed normally but could not stop.

Possibility of Go-Around

Pegasus Airlines pilots, who were descending to Trabzon Airport under the command of the co-pilot, contacted the Air traffic Controllers at Trabzon Airport. The controller reported that there was another aircraft on the runway and that there was a possibility of Go-Around (actual ATC phrase of that instruction “prepare possible go around, continue approach”). Meanwhile, the co-pilot, one of the pilots who saw the runway, accidentally pressed the TOGA (Take Off-Go Around) button, which provided the pass and gave power to the engines, while he was supposed to get out of the autopilot and the auto throttle.

Captain Pilot – Late Reaction

The Boeing 737-800 aircraft landed on the runway and started to slow down. On the other hand, it still perceived itself in the “go-around” mode because the TOGA (go-around button) was pressed. Since the automatic throttle was not deactivated, the throttle of the right engine was opened automatically as the speed break on the wings was closed. The captain did not realize that the automatic throttle was open. Second pilot opened it and forgot to close in case of a missed approach. The captain, who took the control to take the plane to the terminal on landing, was late. The left engine braked and the right engine gas was opened. As a result, the plane turned to the left side and skidded off the runway.

The location of the runway where the accident took place was very close to the sea. The plane skidded towards the sea side of the runway. As a result of the accident, the plane got stuck in the mud on the slope and stopped before falling into the sea. The plane did not crash into the sea in the accident. Fortunately, the incident ended without loss of life.