IAD96IA044

History of flight

On February 20, 1996, at 1512 eastern standard time, a Boeing 737-130, N33202, registered to and operated by Continental Airlines as Flight 1156, on a Title 14 CFR Part 121 scheduled domestic flight, ran off the departure end of runway 36 and onto the overrun area after landing at Washington National Airport (DCA,) Washington, D.C. The 74 passengers and 5 crewmembers onboard the airplane reported no injuries. The airplane sustained minor damage. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and a instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed. The flight departed from Greensboro/Piedmont Triad International Airport, Greensboro, North Carolina at 1432 eastern standard time.

The airplane, a Boeing 737-130, originally departed from Tampa International Airport, Tampa, Florida with a stopover at Greensboro/Piedmont Triad International Airport, Greensboro, North Carolina. The flightcrew from the Tampa to Greensboro flight indicated that they experienced not anomalies during that flight. The pilots for the flight from Greensboro to Washington, D.C. boarded the airplane at Greensboro, and indicated that the en route portion of the flight proceeded normally.

The pilots reported that during their arrival to the destination airport, the approach controller advised them that they were number one for the runway, and requested that they keep their airspeed up during the approach. The flightcrew obtained the current Washington National Airport Terminal Information System (ATIS,) designated "Delta," which noted an "overriding tailwind component" on final approach for runway 36. According to the captain's written statement, the weather was actually better than described by the ATIS, and the surface winds were out of 040 degrees at 7 knots.

The captain stated that he proceeded to the runway visually, and used the Instrument Landing System (ILS) approach as a back up. He reported that, when the airplane was about 11 miles south of the airport, descending on the approach, he began to slow the airplane to approach and landing airspeeds. Air traffic control (ATC) personnel cleared the flight to land on runway 36. The local (DCA tower) controller reported that the airplane touched down in a three point (flat) attitude at approximately the Foxtrot intersection. The controller indicated that he observed the airplane's thrust reversers deploy in the vicinity of the intersection of runway 36 and taxiway November. (An airport diagram is appended.) The controller stated that at this point he realized that the airplane was not going to remain on the runway. The airplane continued off the departure end of runway 36, and came to a stop approximately 250 feet into the overrun area.

Personnel information

The captain held an Airline Transport Pilot's Certificate with over 11,000 total flight hours and a type rating in the B-737. He held a current first class medical, issued January 8, 1996, with no restrictions or limitations noted. The captain's flight time in the incident make and model airplane was reported as follows: 2,294 hours total; 138 hours in last 90 days; 58 hours in the last 30 days; and 1 hour in the last 24 hours.

The first officer held an Airline Transport Pilot's Certificate with 8700 total flight hours and no type rating for the B-737. He held a current first class medical, issued December 13, 1995, with no restrictions or limitations noted. The first officer's flight time in the incident make and model airplane was reported as follows: 5,500 hours total; 211 hours in the last 90 days; 59 hours in the last 30 days; 1 hour in the last 24 hours.

In accordance with Continental Airlines' policy and Federal regulations, both pilots were given a breath alcohol test after the incident. The test results were negative. Breath alcohol test results are appended.

Aircraft information

The Boeing 737-130, N33202, was in a continuous airworthiness maintenance program, with the most recent inspection performed on February 15, 1996. Records indicated that the airplane had flown 38 hours since the most recent inspection, and the airframe had accumulated a total of 66,654 total flight hours. No pertinent anomalies were noted in the aircraft maintenance logbooks.

The airplane's certificated maximum gross weight is 109,000 pounds. According to the captain's statement, the airplane weighed less than 94,000 pounds at the time of the approach, so 94,000 pounds approach airspeed settings were used. He stated that the landing flap setting was 25 degrees instead of 30 due to the 90,000 pounds weight limit to meet FAR 36 noise abatement sound levels.

After the incident, the captain filled out an irregularity report which stated that during the landing roll, he was unable to stop the aircraft on the runway. He indicated that during the postflight inspection, he observed that the two inboard main landing gear tires were deflated. The captain filled out a maintenance sheet with the same statement.

After the incident, a maintenance group was sent to assess the damage sustained by the airplane. They reported that they found the number 2 and number 3 main landing gear tires were blown and there wsa minor foreign object damage to both engines. The anti skid system was tested in accordance with the airplane maintenance manual, and no defects were noted. Subsequent work performed on the anti skid systems revealed one discrepancy. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA,) during a test of the anti skid system, one channel on the master control box failed to test correctly. This was the channel that controlled the inboard brakes. Continental Airlines reported that this discrepancy was worked on at the request of their Maintenance Control, for precautionary reasons only.

Meteorological information

The weather reported at Washington National at 1450 eastern standard time was: scattered clouds at 400 feet; a measured ceiling of 700 feet broken; 2400 overcast; visibility, 3 miles with light rain and fog; temperature, 49 degrees Fahrenheit (F); dewpoint, 49 degrees F; and winds out of 040 degrees magnetic at 7 knots; altimeter setting, 30.06 inches of Hg.

The pilot in command, who was flying the airplane, stated that "the weather was better than reported". The ATIS reported an "overriding tailwind component" on final approach for runway 36.

Communications

The voice communications between the flightcrew and the approach/local controllers during the final miles into the airport were reviewed. During the approach sequence, neither pilot indicated that their approach airspeed concerned them, nor did they request a reduction of airspeed.

The approach radar controller described the traffic at the time of the incident as light, and not complex. He stated that the incident airplane was identified on radar when it was thirty-five miles south-southwest, and was number one for the approach to runway 36. The approach controller transferred the flight to the local (tower) controller when it was about ten miles south of the destination airport. The approach controller stated that he did not specifically note the approach speed of the incident airplane, however, he did not request the pilots to reduce their airspeed as the airplane proceeded inbound. The approach controller indicated that he did not notice anything unusual about the incident airplane's approach.

The ATC Shift Supervisor, who was in the tower control cab during the time of the incident, stated that he noticed that the incident airplane was established on final approach at an airspeed of 240 knots. The controllers reported that airplanes typically entered final approach at airspeeds between 170 and 210 knots. The supervisor indicated that he observed the airplane, with the data tag, on the DBRITE radar screen located in the tower cab. He further stated that the airspeed appeared higher than the other