What happened
During an arrival from Heho, the aircraft experienced a series of six bounces while attempting to land on runway 20. The touchdown occurred approximately 1,500 feet beyond the runway threshold. Following a particularly violent final bounce, the nose landing gear failed. This led to the aircraft skidding along the runway surface and eventually overrunning the paved area.
As the aircraft moved onto soft ground, both main landing gears collapsed. The sequence ended when the aircraft struck a sand pile, causing significant damage to the airframe. Specifically, a blade from the right engine penetrated the fuselage during the impact. Despite the severity of the impact, all 54 occupants managed to evacuate the aircraft without any injuries.
Findings
- The landing sequence was characterized by multiple bounces on the runway.
- The collapse of the nose gear during a heavy bounce initiated the loss of control on the runway.
- The subsequent transition to soft ground caused the failure of the main landing gear components.