NTSB Issues Investigative Update on B-767 Runway Excursion Accident in Miami
The NTSB released a preliminary update on a B-767 cargo plane's runway excursion in Miami, detailing critical CVR and FDR data. The report reveals a series of alarming crew decisions, including ignored speed warnings and a late, aborted go-around. Hacker News aviation enthusiasts intensely dissected the data, highlighting profound pilot errors and the complex interplay of factors leading to the accident.
The Lowdown
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has published an initial investigative update regarding a Boeing 767 cargo plane's runway excursion at Miami International Airport on September 6, 2026. This preliminary release details crucial data recovered from the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and Flight Data Recorder (FDR), offering a timeline of events leading up to the accident.
- The NTSB successfully read out data from both the CVR (over 2 hours of audio) and FDR (54 hours of data with over 400 parameters).
- CVR events show a rapid sequence of flap settings, repeated warnings about excessive speed from one pilot that were not consistently addressed, autopilot disconnect, and numerous electronic callouts such as "sink rate sink rate," "too low terrain," and "minimums" prior to touchdown.
- A pilot called for a go-around at 00:15 relative to the CVR's end, just five seconds before the aircraft departed the paved surface.
- FDR data indicates initial touchdown at a groundspeed of 158 knots, with brakes applied at 146 knots, but then released briefly with throttles increased for a go-around before being immediately reduced to idle and brakes reapplied.
- Crucially, the FDR showed no indication that speed brakes or thrust reversers were deployed at any point.
- The final recorded groundspeed was 65 knots when the FDR recording ended.
This update provides a stark, minute-by-minute account of the flight's final moments, highlighting potential critical failures in crew decision-making and aircraft handling that transformed a landing into a runway excursion.
The Gossip
Pilot Performance Predicaments
The overwhelming sentiment among commenters points to significant pilot error and a profoundly unstable approach. Commenters, including experienced pilots, note a continuous stream of poor decisions, ignored warnings, and a failure to execute a go-around at appropriate times, particularly at the 1000-foot mark. Many express surprise at the crew's basic airmanship, suggesting this was an egregious rather than an understandable mistake, especially given the co-pilot's concerns about speed.
Braking Blunders and Weight-on-Wheel Woes
A key point of discussion revolved around the failure to deploy speed brakes and thrust reversers. Commenters explain that the aircraft's 'hot' landing, potentially with the left main gear not properly weighted (due to factors like a quartering tailwind), likely prevented the automatic braking systems from engaging, as these systems rely on positive weight-on-wheel sensors. This lack of deceleration mechanisms contributed significantly to the runway overrun.
Pressures and Psychological Pitfalls
Beyond the technical details, some commenters speculate on the underlying reasons for the crew's actions, particularly their reluctance to initiate a go-around despite obvious instability. Hypotheses include external pressures from airlines or cargo operators to avoid delays and fuel costs, as well as internal human factors like pilot ego, complacency, or junior pilot shyness inhibiting critical decision-making. This discussion highlights the 'hazardous attitudes' often explored in accident investigations.