What happened
During the final approach phase of the flight, the aircraft experienced a sudden loss of aerodynamic lift. According to the pilot, the plane ceased flying and descended onto a snow-covered runway. The aircraft slid along the centerline for approximately 500 feet before coming to a complete halt. During the excursion, the landing gear sustained significant damage, with all three gear components folding backward.
Prior to the incident, the aircraft had undergone a cleaning process the previous evening. Following this maintenance, the plane was left outdoors in temperatures reaching -5°C.
Findings
Investigation into the incident revealed that ice had formed within the aircraft's static system. This contamination of the pitot-static instrumentation is considered the primary factor in the loss of flight control during the approach.