Incident Overview
The first officer was handling the controls and had completed the VOR-DME approach. At the time of the accident, the approach procedure was NOTAMed as 'out of service'.
Witness Observations
A witness reported that the aircraft was in a high flare above the runway threshold, then dropped vertically, landing hard on the main landing gear. The aircraft bounced and banked to the left. The left wing struck the runway, and the aircraft veered to the left, departing the runway.
Flight Data Recorder Analysis
A Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFDR) study revealed that while on approach, the aircraft rolled approximately 20 degrees to the right. During this roll, 'it appears that full power was applied to the engines.' The right engine reached full power about 2 seconds before the left engine. This asymmetric power application was immediately followed by a 38-degree roll to the left and then a spike in vertical acceleration exceeding three 'g' when the wings became level again.
Pilot Statement
According to the captain's statement, he took control of the aircraft after it yawed from right to left.
Sequence of Events
The flight initially touched down at 584 feet from the end of Runway 14. The left wing tip contacted the pavement three separate times before the aircraft departed the runway at a 40-degree angle. The aircraft then traveled through rough terrain and came to rest approximately 1,148 feet from the point where it exited the runway.
Crew Information
The first officer was hired on January 9, 1996, and this was her first line trip with the airline.