What happened
During an initial approach, the aircraft was incorrectly configured for landing. This led to a touchdown on runway 18 where the nose gear made contact with the surface first. The force of this impact caused a tire to burst, and the plane underwent three distinct bounces on the runway. In response to these conditions, the captain elected to perform a go-around.
After completing a circuit, the crew attempted a second landing. While this second touchdown was successful, the aircraft subsequently lost directional control because the nosewheel steering mechanism was non-functional. Consequently, the plane veered off the runway and came to a stop. Although there were no injuries among the three crew members, the aircraft was declared a total loss.
Findings
- The initial landing attempt was compromised by an improper approach configuration.
- A failure in the nosewheel steering system prevented the crew from maintaining the aircraft on the runway centerline during the second landing attempt.