What happened
During an approach to Runway 31 at Wick Airport, the aircraft crossed the runway threshold at a speed of 130 kt, which exceeded the recommended threshold speed by 21 kt. Following the reduction of power by the co-pilot, the aircraft remained airborne approximately six feet above the runway surface. The initial touchdown resulted in a bounce, followed by a second, more forceful impact. This heavy second touchdown caused a crack in a wing spar and significant structural flexing, which led to the right propeller striking the runway surface. A third bounce occurred before the aircraft finally came to rest.
Findings
Investigation into the incident revealed that immediately preceding the initial touchdown, one or both power levers had been moved behind the flight idle position. From that point until after the second heavy impact, both the pilot and the co-pilot were actively providing inputs to the flight controls. The investigation confirmed that there were no mechanical or technical failures present on the aircraft. Furthermore, the meteorological conditions at the time of the accident were well within the operational limits of the aircraft.