What happened
Prior to departing from Reno, the aircraft had undergone an FAA ramp check which revealed no discrepancies. During the landing phase, the airline transport pilot was responsible for completing the before-landing checklist, a task that included verifying the position of the nose wheel steering tiller.
Upon touchdown, the aircraft veered left of the runway centerline. The private pilot attempted to correct the deviation using right rudder input and braking. Although the aircraft slowed, it continued to veer toward the left side of the runway. Despite the propellers being placed into beta, the aircraft drifted off the left side of the runway, struck a light, and suffered a nose gear collapse. Witnesses at the scene reported seeing a cloud of smoke emanating from the nose gear area during the landing. The aircraft traveled approximately 200 to 300 feet before departing the centerline.
The investigation
Investigators examined the aircraft's braking system and found no discrepancies. Signature marks discovered at the initial point of touchdown on the runway were consistent with the nose gear not being in a centered position.
An examination of the nose gear steering cables revealed that the cables were significantly under tensioned. A report provided by the aircraft owner noted that nose gear difficulties had been documented as far back as August 1992. The report highlighted that if the actuator cables are improperly tensioned, the tiller may visually indicate a horizontal position even when the nose wheel is not centered.