What happened
The incident occurred during a routine training flight when the aircraft attempted to land on runway 28. The approach was conducted directly into the sun, which likely impaired visual references for the crew. As the aircraft touched down, it failed to stop within the confines of the paved surface and overran the departure end of the runway.
Upon exiting the runway environment, the aircraft struck telephone poles that were lying horizontally on the ground near the runway threshold. The impact caused significant damage to the airframe, but the momentum carried the wreckage forward until it slid to a complete stop in an adjacent parking lot.
The investigation
Post-accident analysis relied heavily on the account provided by the Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) aboard the aircraft. The CFI reported that visual confirmation of the long landing occurred too late in the sequence to execute a safe go-around procedure. By the time the excessive touchdown distance was recognized, there was insufficient runway remaining to arrest the aircraft's speed before it reached the end of the pavement.
Findings
The primary factor contributing to the accident was the failure to maintain adequate visual reference during an approach into the sun. This environmental condition delayed the recognition of a long landing until it was no longer possible to abort the touchdown or stop within the available runway length. The presence of obstacles, specifically the telephone poles, at the runway end exacerbated the severity of the overrun.