Incident Details
During an approach to runway 28, the pilot-in-command adopted a wrong approach configuration. The aircraft crossed the runway threshold at an excessive speed of 184 knots, which was 61 knots above the reference speed (Vref), in a nose-down attitude. The nose gear touched down first at a speed of 163 knots, approximately 40–45 knots above the normal touchdown speed, and 2,540 feet past the threshold of the 5,500-foot-long runway.
Sequence of Events
Unable to stop within the remaining runway distance, the airplane overran the end of the runway. It struck a drainage ditch, resulting in the loss of its undercarriage, and came to rest 728 feet past the runway end. All 77 occupants were evacuated safely; one occupant sustained a minor injury.
Probable Cause
The official probable cause, as determined by the investigation, is: The captain's lack of awareness of airspeed, vertical speed, and aircraft performance throughout an ILS approach and landing in visual meteorological conditions which resulted in his landing the aircraft at an excessively high speed and with insufficient runway remaining for stopping the aircraft, but with sufficient aircraft performance capability to reject the landing well after touchdown. Contributing to the accident was the first officer's failure to provide required callouts which might have alerted the captain to the airspeed and sink rate deviations. The Safety Board was unable to determine the reasons for the captain's lack of awareness or the first officer's failure to provide required callouts.