- April 30, 2021, 12:08 PM Runway excursions have become one of the most common types of aircraft accidents worldwide. Most of them occur during landing with lateral excursions and are becoming a growing concern. Typically, poor pilot technique or aircraft handling errors combined with environmental factors such as weather contribute to these events. Crosswinds in particular have proven to be a challenge. While these events are rarely deadly, lateral runway excursions, or veer-offs, often result in a hull loss. Last month’s blog focused on runway excursions and crosswind takeoffs, specifically aircraft handling during periods of strong and/or gusty winds. As mentioned, aircraft handling and the environment are the two main contributors to runway excursions during landing. Other factors may include pilot decision-making ability (land/no-land decision) or understanding of aircraft performance limitations related to landing in a crosswind together with hazardous conditions such as a contaminated runway surface.