What happened
During a landing at Queenstown aerodrome, an aircraft was unable to achieve sufficient braking to remain on the runway. In an attempt to avoid hitting obstructions, the pilot steered the aircraft off the paved surface. The aircraft subsequently breached the aerodrome boundary fence and crossed a ditch measuring 750 mm in depth. The sequence ended when the aircraft came to a halt approximately 96.7 m beyond the end of the runway. While there were no fatalities, one passenger sustained a minor neck injury during the excursion.
The investigation
Investigators examined the mechanical state of the aircraft and the runway environment. The inspection of the aircraft's braking system revealed no mechanical defects or faults that would have prevented effective deceleration. The investigation focused on the operational conditions and the physical characteristics of the runway area and surrounding infrastructure.
Findings
Technical analysis determined that the primary issue was the inability to stop the aircraft within the available runway distance. Contributing factors identified during the investigation included the presence of hazardous structures located on the extended runway centerline and the lack of accessible, remote-reading wind condition data at both ends of the runway. Additionally, the investigation highlighted the need for regular friction measurements of the runway surfaces to ensure adequate braking performance.