The National Transportation Safety Board’s preliminary report says a CommuteAir Embraer ERJ-145XR operating as United Express flight 4339 continued its landing in Roanoke despite two go-around calls from the first officer before overrunning the runway and stopping in the engineered materials arresting system (EMAS) on Sept. 24.
No injuries were reported among the 50 passengers and three crew members.
According to investigators, the flight — the second leg of day four for the crew — departed Washington Dulles after maintenance-related delays. En route, ATIS for Roanoke indicated calm winds, no precipitation, and Runway 6 in use. The captain initially briefed the localizer 6 approach and declined the first officer’s suggestion to run wet-runway landing performance numbers because ATIS did not report precipitation.
Approach control later advised precipitation along the Runway 6 path and that other aircraft were landing on Runway 34, prompting the crew to set up and brief the ILS 34 approach as rain intensified. The captain then asked the first officer to compute landing performance for a wet surface with a runway condition code of 5; the FO calculated a margin of about 200 feet without thrust reversers.
The captain briefed a go-around and diversion to Greensboro, North Carolina, if needed.
Captain Continued Approach
On final, the crew observed increasing rain. The first officer noted the aircraft was high on the precision approach path indicator and, after crossing runway markings, called for a go-around; about halfway down the runway, the FO called for a go-around a second time, but the captain continued the approach.
The aircraft touched down, and the crew applied maximum braking and deployed thrust reversers. The jet overran the end of Runway 34 and came to rest in the EMAS. Airport firefighters assisted with deplaning via a ladder after the crew completed evacuation checklists; there were no injuries.
The NTSB is continuing to investigate the incident.
