What happened
The accident occurred during the landing phase of flight on a runway measuring 3600 feet in length. The aircraft touched down beyond the optimal touchdown zone, commonly referred to as touching down long. Following the initial contact with the pavement, the aircraft continued its forward momentum and exited the departure end of the runway.
Upon leaving the paved surface, the aircraft collided with the adjacent terrain. This impact resulted in substantial damage to the airframe. Witnesses at the scene observed the path taken by the aircraft and noted that they could not find any skid marks along the ground where the aircraft had traveled. This observation suggested that the wheels were rotating freely rather than locking up during the overrun.
The investigation
A subsequent mechanical examination of the aircraft was conducted to determine the status of the braking system. Inspectors checked the brakes and found that they were functional. The presence of working brakes, combined with the lack of skid marks observed by witnesses, indicated that the braking system did not fail mechanically during the event.
Findings
The primary factor in this accident was the pilot's decision to land on a runway where the available distance may have been insufficient for the approach speed or configuration. The aircraft touched down long, leaving inadequate runway remaining to stop safely before the departure end. The failure to stop within the available paved surface led to the overrun and subsequent collision with terrain.