In order to study the deformation and failure law of surrounding rock in the process of driving back air roadway under thick coal seam, 5800 air return roadway of Nanyangpo Mine was taken as study object, numerical simulation of stress, deformation and plastic zone variation was conducted with FLAC3D.Three achievements were got, maximum principal stress of roadway surrounding rock appeared in surface of coal pillar of roadway and 2 m deep of solid side; The displacement of roadway roof and two sides on roadway surface was parabolic, the maximum value and the roadway mining distance with exponential attenuation relationship; the plastic area of roadway coal pillar side was larger than the solid side, the roof nearby coal pillar larger than the other side, the floor without damage, the whole roadway surrounding rock damage scope was 1.5～2 m.