What happened
On June 10, 2015, a privately owned Cessna 525A, registered JA021R, was performing a ferry flight from Tokyo International Airport to Kohnan Airfield. The flight, operated by a single pilot, transitioned from instrument to visual flight rules during the approach. Upon receiving wind information, the pilot elected to land on Runway 27 to utilize a shorter flight path, mistakenly believing the wind conditions would provide a more favorable approach.
During the final approach, the aircraft's speed remained significantly higher than the recommended reference speed. EGPWS records indicated that the aircraft was still at a high airspeed when the "Too Low, Flaps" warning triggered at 205 feet AGL. The aircraft touched down approximately 30 meters forward of the aiming point. Shortly after touchdown, the pilot encountered a bird on the runway, necessitating a sudden maneuver to the right. This distraction, combined with the high approach speed, delayed the application of maximum braking.
Despite applying the brakes, the aircraft could not decelerate sufficiently. The Cessna 525A overran the end of the runway, crossed the stopway, and entered a grass area before plunging into a regulating reservoir located west of the runway. The impact caused the nose landing gear to detach and resulted in substantial damage to the airframe and wing flaps.
The investigation
Investigators from the JTSB analyzed data from the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR), the Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System (EGPWS), and radar tracking. The investigation also reviewed airfield surveillance footage and examined the physical wreckage. The team evaluated the aircraft's flight manual procedures, specifically regarding landing configurations and braking techniques. The investigation also looked into the pilot's interpretation of wind information and the impact of the bird strike on the landing roll.