Definition
In runway safety terminology, an excursion is an event in which an aircraft veers off or overruns the runway surface during takeoff or landing. It includes both veer-offs (departing the side of the runway) and overruns (rolling off the end of the runway).
Plain English
When an aircraft accidentally leaves the runway during takeoff or landing — either off the side or off the far end.
Context Anchor
Seen in runway safety discussions, especially when describing why runway safety areas exist and what kinds of accidents they are meant to reduce.
Derivation
From the Latin excursio, meaning 'a running out.' In aviation, the aircraft has 'run out' of the prepared runway surface — captures the unintended departure from where it should be.
Why Pilots Care
Runway excursions remain a leading cause of runway-related accidents and can damage the aircraft or injure occupants even when the airplane stays upright.
Analogy
Like a car sliding off the paved road onto the shoulder during a rainstorm instead of staying in its lane.
Intuition Check
Do not read excursion here as a trip or outing. In this context, it means an aircraft leaving the runway area it was supposed to remain on.
Example Sentence 1
A wet runway and a tailwind contributed to the runway excursion after the aircraft floated past the touchdown zone.
Example Sentence 2
Runway safety areas are built wider and longer specifically to reduce the consequences if an excursion does occur.