What happened
The aircraft was operating under conditions characterized by gusty crosswinds. During the final approach phase, the pilot elected to deploy full flaps for the landing maneuver. Upon touchdown, directional control was compromised. The aircraft initially contacted the runway surface with its nose wheel rather than the main gear. Following this initial contact, the aircraft became airborne again.
As the pilot attempted a go-around procedure to recover from the aborted landing, the aircraft lacked sufficient flying speed to maintain controlled flight. Consequently, the aircraft veered to the right and collided with the terrain. The flight operations handbook for this specific aircraft type recommends utilizing minimum flap settings during crosswind landing operations to maintain better control authority.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the mechanical condition of the aircraft and the operational decisions made during the approach. Evidence indicated that the decision to use full flaps in gusty crosswind conditions contributed to the difficulty in maintaining directional control upon touchdown. The subsequent loss of airspeed prevented a successful go-around.
Findings
The primary factors leading to the accident included the loss of directional control due to the nose-wheel touchdown and the subsequent inability to gain adequate airspeed for a safe go-around. The use of full flaps in gusty crosswinds was noted as contrary to recommended procedures. Loss of control during the landing phase resulted in the collision with terrain.