Narrative:

While attempting to make 180 degree turn at vok air base in widebody transport. Could not complete turn because of aircraft very light weight (400,000 pounds), and being at end of runway where runway's markings are slippery. Being stuck in that position with no facilities at vok to move the aircraft, I utilized reverse thrust to attempt to get aircraft to roll back slightly to allow for another attempt. Body gear rolled too far aft and dropped off hard surface. No damage was done to aircraft. Just to this captain's feelings. (Embarrassing at the least). Factors contributing: taxiway at the end of runway (closed) which we had planned to use was 'closed' not notamed. Additional construction of airfield also not notamed. We were told to make left turn instead of right thus not allowing us to use what little bit of concrete was usable at the intersection of taxiway and runway. Aircraft very light weight, very poor nose wheel steering at light weight, and since we were not advised of taxiway closed, we went to end of runway to use same (now between rock and hard spot). Told to make right turn instead of left (more difficult from left seat). Painted surfaces at end of runway slippery wind would have permitted downwind landing (less than 10 KTS) to east (runway 9) than no turns required because parking was at the east end. (Never offered this option). No tractor available to move aircraft nearest one 5 hours away. My company needs to do more checking by phone before we operate.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: WDB ACR ATTEMPTING TO DO 180 AT END OF RWY AT VOK DRIVES GEAR OFF OF PAVEMENT. NO DAMAGE.

Narrative: WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE 180 DEG TURN AT VOK AIR BASE IN WDB. COULD NOT COMPLETE TURN BECAUSE OF ACFT VERY LIGHT WT (400,000 POUNDS), AND BEING AT END OF RWY WHERE RWY'S MARKINGS ARE SLIPPERY. BEING STUCK IN THAT POS WITH NO FACILITIES AT VOK TO MOVE THE ACFT, I UTILIZED REVERSE THRUST TO ATTEMPT TO GET ACFT TO ROLL BACK SLIGHTLY TO ALLOW FOR ANOTHER ATTEMPT. BODY GEAR ROLLED TOO FAR AFT AND DROPPED OFF HARD SURFACE. NO DAMAGE WAS DONE TO ACFT. JUST TO THIS CAPT'S FEELINGS. (EMBARRASSING AT THE LEAST). FACTORS CONTRIBUTING: TAXIWAY AT THE END OF RWY (CLOSED) WHICH WE HAD PLANNED TO USE WAS 'CLOSED' NOT NOTAMED. ADDITIONAL CONSTRUCTION OF AIRFIELD ALSO NOT NOTAMED. WE WERE TOLD TO MAKE L TURN INSTEAD OF R THUS NOT ALLOWING US TO USE WHAT LITTLE BIT OF CONCRETE WAS USABLE AT THE INTXN OF TAXIWAY AND RWY. ACFT VERY LIGHT WT, VERY POOR NOSE WHEEL STEERING AT LIGHT WT, AND SINCE WE WERE NOT ADVISED OF TAXIWAY CLOSED, WE WENT TO END OF RWY TO USE SAME (NOW BTWN ROCK AND HARD SPOT). TOLD TO MAKE R TURN INSTEAD OF L (MORE DIFFICULT FROM L SEAT). PAINTED SURFACES AT END OF RWY SLIPPERY WIND WOULD HAVE PERMITTED DOWNWIND LNDG (LESS THAN 10 KTS) TO E (RWY 9) THAN NO TURNS REQUIRED BECAUSE PARKING WAS AT THE E END. (NEVER OFFERED THIS OPTION). NO TRACTOR AVAILABLE TO MOVE ACFT NEAREST ONE 5 HRS AWAY. MY COMPANY NEEDS TO DO MORE CHKING BY PHONE BEFORE WE OPERATE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.