What happened
The pilot was operating an aircraft in marginal weather conditions and requested radar assistance to facilitate the landing at his intended destination. Air traffic control provided a radar vector that positioned the aircraft on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern. During this phase of the approach, the pilot visually identified an airport directly beneath him.
The pilot proceeded with the landing on a runway that was officially closed due to ongoing construction work. The site was marked with plywood sheets and sandbags to indicate its status. As the aircraft touched down, it struck a ditch that crossed the length of the runway, as well as the plywood and sandbag barriers. These impacts resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of events leading to the landing on the closed facility. Key findings included the pilot's reliance on visual identification during marginal weather and the failure to verify the operational status of the runway prior to touchdown. The presence of construction markers, specifically plywood and sandbags, was confirmed as a factor in the damage sustained.
Findings
The primary contributing factors were the pilot's decision to land on a closed runway and the misidentification of the airport during an approach in marginal weather. The lack of visual cues due to weather conditions likely contributed to the error. The substantial damage was directly caused by striking a ditch and construction debris.
Safety message
Pilots must verify the operational status of runways, especially those marked as closed for construction or maintenance. Visual identification alone is insufficient in marginal weather; pilots should rely on current NOTAMs and airport diagrams to avoid landing on unusable surfaces.