What happened
A pilot conducting a non-scheduled domestic cargo flight under Part 135 regulations was performing a landing on a gravel runway. During the landing roll, the right main landing gear collapsed, causing the aircraft to exit the right side of the runway.
An FAA air safety inspector's examination of the site revealed that the aircraft landed heavily on the gravel runway threshold. This initial impact caused the plane to become airborne again before touching down approximately 300 feet further down the runway. The tracks left by the aircraft veered sharply off the right side of the runway and ended at the location of the wreckage.
The investigation
The inspector documented significant impact marks on the runway threshold. These marks were several inches deep and measured between 3 and 6 feet in length, with gravel sprayed forward and to both sides of the track. Evidence showed that the landing gear tracks resumed approximately 300 feet down the runway after the initial heavy impact.
Findings
The investigation determined that the aircraft sustained damage to the fuselage, the right wing, and the landing gear attaching points.