Description

On 7 February 2008, a Boeing 717-200 being operated by Australian airline National Jet on a scheduled passenger service from Nhulunbuy (Gove) to Darwin flew an unstabilised night visual approach at the destination and made a very hard landing. The landing roll was completed and the aircraft taxied to the terminal. None of the 94 occupants were injured but the aircraft was suffered substantial structural damage and damage to the left hand main landing gear.

Investigation

The accident was investigated by the ATSB. It was established that the First Officer was PF for the approach and that although ATC had issued clearance to fly a visual approach to Runway 29 at Darwin in light winds, the crew had elected to follow the Instrument Landing System (ILS). The aircraft commander recalled that the runway had been in sight before the aircraft passed over the Howard Springs NDB which was 9.3nm from the runway threshold.