Accident Overview
On February 22, 2008, about 0745 mountain standard time, a Raytheon Aircraft Company 1900D, registration N305PC, sustained substantial damage when it overran the runway during landing at Peabody Bedard Field Airport (38AZ), Kayenta, Arizona. The airplane was operated by Peabody Energy, St. Louis, Missouri, under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The flight departed from Flagstaff around 0700, carrying company personnel to the Black Mesa Coal Mine. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed.
Flight History
The captain initially flew the GPS runway 2 approach down to minimums and executed a missed approach. A second approach was made, and the airplane touched down even with the midfield windsock. The captain applied brakes and full reverse on both propellers, but the airplane did not slow down and continued off the end of the runway. It impacted and knocked down a chain link fence, then continued into downsloping rough terrain. The landing gear collapsed, and the airplane slid to a stop. The operator reported about 2 to 3 inches of slush on the runway.
According to the flight data recorder, the airplane lifted off around 0703 and climbed to 17,000 feet. During the first approach, the aircraft descended to about 6,499 feet pressure altitude before executing a missed approach. On the second approach, the autopilot disengaged at 0744:05 as the pressure altitude reached 6,808 feet. Between 0744:30 and 0744:45, engine torque was reduced, and pressure altitude decreased to about 6,500 feet. The aircraft likely touched down around 0744:48 at 112 knots indicated airspeed. Both propellers indicated reverse within 2 seconds of touchdown. The last recorded data at 0745 showed an airspeed of 31 knots.
The cockpit voice recorder captured discussions about non-functioning runway end identifier lights (REILs) and the flight crew's attempts to activate them. The first officer commented at 0718:47 that the REILs were not working the previous day. During the approach, at 0735:47, the crew listened to the automated weather station reporting visibility one-half mile in light snow. At 0744:09, the first officer said "there's MDA," and at 0744:27, "there's the runway right below ya." The ground proximity warning system issued a "sink rate" alert at 0744:37. Touchdown was recorded at 0744:52, and impact at 0745:00.
Weather
The airport's Automated Weather Observation System reported conditions around the time of the accident: at 0740, wind from 180 degrees at 9 knots, visibility 3/4 mile in unknown precipitation, ceiling broken at 200 feet agl and overcast at 1,000 feet agl. At 0745, visibility was 1/2 mile in light snow, ceiling broken at 100 feet and overcast at 1,000 feet. All reports indicated temperature 0°C and dew point 0°C, with altimeter 29.98 inHg.
Injuries and Damage
The captain, first officer, and 13 of the 18 passengers were not injured. Two passengers received serious injuries, and three passengers received minor injuries. The airplane sustained substantial damage.
Runway and Airport Information
Peabody Bedard Field Airport is privately owned and operated by Peabody Energy. The field elevation is 6,564 feet. The single runway, 2/20, is 7,500 feet long by 75 feet wide, asphalt paved. It is equipped with medium intensity runway lights, runway end identifier lights, and visual approach slope indicators, all pilot-activated via the common traffic advisory frequency (122.8). The RNAV (GPS) Runway 2 approach has minimums of 1 mile visibility and a minimum descent altitude of 6,860 feet MSL (329 feet AGL). The missed approach point is the RWY02 waypoint at the threshold of runway 2.