What happened
The incident occurred during a local photographic navigational exercise conducted at Port Albert Airport. While executing a final approach, the twin engine airplane struck the ground before reaching the runway threshold. Upon impact, the undercarriage was sheared off, causing the aircraft to slide for several dozen meters before it came to rest on the runway surface.
All five crew members escaped the accident without sustaining injuries. Despite the survival of the personnel, the airframe sustained damage that rendered it beyond repair. The flight phase involved in the event was the final approach segment of the operation.
Findings
The official investigation identified an error of judgment by the pilot as the primary cause of the accident. Contributing factors included adverse weather conditions, specifically a cloud base that was too low to allow the first pilot to assume control effectively. Additionally, icing on the windows was noted as a factor that contributed to the difficulty in managing the aircraft during the critical phase of flight.