B734, Zurich Switzerland, 2013

B734, Zurich Switzerland, 2013

Summary

On 11 October 2013, the commander of a Boeing 737-400 taxiing on wet taxiways at night after landing at Zurich became uncertain of his position in relation to the clearance received and when he attempted to manoeuvre the aircraft off the taxiway centreline onto what was believed to be adjacent paved surface, it became bogged down in soft ground. The Investigation considered the direct cause of the taxiway excursion was not following the green centreline lights but it recommended improvements in the provision of clear and consistent taxi instructions and in taxiway designations in the area of the event.

Description

On 11 October 2013, a Boeing 737-400 (TC-TLE) being operated by Tailwind Airlines on a passenger charter flight from Antalya to Zurich as TWI 327 was unintentionally taxied off the wet paved surface in normal ground visibility at night after landing at Zurich. The aircraft became stuck in soft ground and the 166 passengers and crew were disembarked to buses and taken to the Terminal. The undamaged aircraft was subsequently de-fuelled and recovered to the paved surface.

Investigation

An Investigation was commenced by the Swiss Accident Investigation Board (SAIB) which was subsequently replaced by the new Swiss Transportation Safety Investigation Board (STSB) during the course of the work. Recorded data relevant to the Investigation was recovered from both the FDR and CVR.

Both pilots were generally familiar with Zurich and had accumulated the majority of their total flying experience on the Boeing 737 type. Because the aircraft only has a nosewheel steering tiller at the left pilot seat, the Captain was obliged to control the aircraft when taxiing even though the First Officer had been designated as PF for the flight.

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