On Sat, 26 Dec 2009 15:54:53 -0500, John Szalay wrote
(in article ) :

hielan' laddie wrote in
:
. If you look at the pix 3d1ab3 shows the
two taxiways that lead from the main runway to the terminal. Allegedly
the 737 touched down just beyond the first taxiway. If that's so, then
it's a miracle that it didn't go into the water.




Agreed,
using GE measuring gauge that puts it at about 2,500 ft +_

really short, even on a dry runway..

and if I read the chart right, the landing distance for a 737-800
on a wet runway is 6,675 ft, could not find a chart for absolute
minimum.

http://www.smartcockpit.com/data/pdf...Performance_Ma
rgins.pdf

The local press in Jamaica is reporting that the aircrew were advised to
execute a missed approach and go around again, but declined. Apparently there
was a serious tailwind and they were coming in too hot and ATC thought that
they were going to land short.

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Before-AA331-crashed

(Note: I know Vernon Davidson at the Observer, and about now he's ripping a
few strips off whoever copy-edited his story thanks to certain obvious errors
which I _know_ that he knows better than to have printed...)

If ATC is on the voice recorder telling them to go around, but the pilot
ignored them and went in anyway, then the pilot's gonna be cooked. And AA's
gonna have a problem, given that some of the passengers have hired a hot-shot
lawyer.
http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20091229/business/business1.html

Also, it seems that water on the runway was not a factor as several aircraft
had landed earlier, when the rain was heavier. And, of course, this is the
first time that anyone's overrun at Norman Manley since it was opened (as
Palisadoes International) in the 1950s.