What happened
The pilot was operating a flight that had been diverted to Galesburg Municipal Airport due to adverse weather conditions at the original destination. Following an Instrument Landing System (ILS) approach, the pilot reported spotting the runway at approximately 200 feet above ground level, positioned significantly to the right of the aircraft's centerline.
In response, the pilot executed a side-step maneuver to align with the runway. However, this adjustment resulted in the aircraft touching down while still in a crabbed angle. Immediately after touchdown, the pilot initiated a go-around procedure by applying power. At this moment, the aircraft was settling toward the runway surface because the landing gear had already collapsed.
The investigation
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) examined the circumstances surrounding the approach and landing. The investigation focused on the sequence of events involving the side-step maneuver and the subsequent loss of structural integrity in the landing gear system during the critical phase of the go-around attempt.