The Airbus A340 was 100,000 kg (220,460 lb) heavier than the takeoff weight entered into its computers and did not respond to normal control pressure at the calculated rotation speed. When the first officer, the pilot flying, increased back pressure on the sidestick, the aircraft rotated but still was moving too slowly to lift off. The captain realized that something was not right and applied full power. The A340 finally became airborne after running off the runway and destroying several lights and localizer antennas. Damage was substantial, but there were no injuries.
During its investigation of the March 20, 2009, accident at Melbourne Airport, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) found similarities to several other recent occurrences in which flight crews apparently were unable to perform “reasonableness checks” that likely would have revealed gross errors in the data used for calculating takeoff performance parameters such as V-speeds and thrust settings (see, “
