NTSB: Pilots of plane that slid in to St. Johns River initially planned to land on different runway

Jacksonville, FL — Pilots of the plane that overran a runway at Naval Air Station Jacksonville and slid in to the St. Johns River made a request to land in a different direction, which meant using a runway that was effectively shortened- one which they overran. That landing was also done with an inoperative part designed to help slow the aircraft down.

It's all new information coming from the National Transportation Safety Board, as they continue to investigate the incident. All 143 people on the Miami Air International charter plane were able to make it off safely, with some suffering minor injuries, but nobody seriously hurt.

GALLERY: Plane overruns NAS Jax runway and slides in to St. Johns River

NTSB Vice Chairman Bruce Landsberg says the original plan was for the plane to land to the west, on runway 28. As they neared the area, Landsberg says the pilots requested to land to the east instead, on runway 10. He says the pilots were advised that- at that time- the runway was effectively shortened by about 1,200 feet from 9,000 feet to 7,800 feet, but they moved forward with the decision to land there. The shorter length was because barrier rigging was set up to support offshore Navy operations, by creating a safety net to help any aircraft that was not able to land on a ship, and would need to divert to the base. The barriers could help bring that aircraft to a stop, if it was experiencing mechanical issues.

Landsberg says it’s not clear to them at this point why the pilots decided to change their landing approach. That’s some of the information they’re hoping to learn once they recover the cockpit voice recorder from the tail of the plane, which has not yet been done. He says they’re confident the recorder will be in good shape. They will also be investigating the pilots’ recent experience, training, medical condition, work/rest profile, and related areas.

The flight data recorder has already been recovered and was taken to the NTSB lab in DC yesterday. Landsberg says they have determined some of the basics about the aircraft conditions at touchdown, based on a preliminary assessment: air speed was 163 knots, ground speed 178 knots, flap setting 30 degrees, and ground spoilers deployed three seconds after touchdown. The estimated tail wind is 15 knots. Landsberg would not characterize yet whether he considered the speed to be too fast for this Boeing 737, saying they haven’t yet been able to put together all of the factors dealing with environment, aircraft condition, and related areas.

The pilots made that landing knowing that one system used to slow the aircraft was not working, according to the NTSB. Landsberg says the aircraft had been in maintenance, and it was known that the left hand thrust reverser was “inoperative”. He says that is used to divert thrust and slow the aircraft, without actually slowing the engines themselves. While that was “inoperative”, he says there are procedures in place the pilots can use to compensate for that.

There were bad storms at the time of the Friday landing, and Landsberg and NTSB Investigator-in-Charge John Lovell say the severe weather that moved through the area today has hampered their investigative efforts. Lovell says they have had to move at a slower pace, for safety reasons, but he doesn’t not believe there has been any compromising effect on the investigation itself, in terms of the impact of weather on the wreckage and evidence.

That wreckage remains in the water, and there is no firm timeline yet for removing it. Landsberg says they are first determining if the plane will remain on Navy property or be moved to a private location. That will dictate how it's removed, with the possibility a barge is engaged. While the plane remains in the River, the Navy has set up booms to contain the jet fuel that leaked from the plane, and they're working to remove those contaminants. Landsberg says containment is well established.

Before the wreckage can be removed, he says they will have to get the fuel that’s still on the plane out. Normally, that’s done through access under the wing, but Landsberg says they have had to cut holes in the top of the wing, because they can’t yet get access under it.

Overall, they believe the portion of the plane above the water line is in “reasonable” condition, but they have not yet done a comprehensive assessment of what the plane is like under the water.

They have also still not done a deep search of the cargo area, where several pets were being transported on this flight from Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba to NAS Jacksonville. Landsberg says the Navy has now contracted divers that are working to recover the pets. They have not been able to determine the condition of the animals, but on a few occasions they briefly accessed that cargo area, they did not hear any sounds. At least some overhead luggage has now been recovered, and passengers can pick theirs up by contacting 904-542-8343. Checked luggage has not yet been retrieved, but once it is, Miami Air will contact passengers directly to coordinate delivery.

As long as the plane is in the water, NAS Jacksonville Commanding Officer Captain Michael Connor says the airfield will remain closed. They are letting some aircraft off base Monday morning, so they can temporarily relocate somewhere to continue training flights. Those aircraft will not return until the airfield reopens.

The NTSB’s investigation will be in cooperation with several parties: Miami Air International, the FAA, Boeing, CFM Engine Company, the union representing the pilots, the union representing the flight attendants, and the Navy.

The NTSB is asking anyone with witness video to sent it to them at witness@ntsb.gov.