What happened
The aircraft experienced a loss of directional control after touchdown, hydroplaning along the runway surface. This loss of traction caused the airplane to run off the end of the paved surface. A subsequent inspection of the runway revealed that the grooving designed to channel water was worn down to the point of being nonexistent along the specific track where the aircraft landed. Additionally, large areas of standing water were present on the runway surface at the time.
The investigation
Investigation of the site conditions indicated that the airport had recorded 1.28 inches of rainfall during the four-hour period immediately preceding the incident. The combination of this significant precipitation and the degraded runway grooving contributed to the formation of standing water, which facilitated the hydroplaning event.
Findings
The primary factor in this incident was the aircraft's inability to maintain braking effectiveness due to hydroplaning. Contributing factors included the worn runway grooves that failed to drain water effectively and the standing water on the runway surface. The weather conditions, specifically the heavy rainfall, created a hazardous landing environment.