On 8 April 2015, an Airbus A320 crew lost their previously-acquired and required visual reference for the intended landing runway at Brasilia but continued descent in heavy rain and delayed beginning a go around until the aircraft was only 40 feet above the runway threshold but had not reached it. A premature touchdown prior to the runway then occurred and the aircraft travelled over 30 metres on the ground before becoming airborne again. The Investigation was unable to establish any explanation for the failure to begin a go around once sufficient visual reference was no longer available.
Description
On 8 April 2015 an Airbus A320 (PR-MHV) being operated by TAM on a scheduled domestic passenger flight from Recife to Brasilia struck the ground short of the destination runway landing threshold after commencing a daylight go around in IMC when the previously-acquired visual reference with the runway obtained at MDA was lost in heavy rain. The contact was transient and the subsequent climb away and subsequent approach were without further event. The 160 occupants were uninjured but the aircraft sustained main gear tyre and some minor fuselage damage and impact damage was caused to the runway threshold lighting.
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