What happened
On the evening of the incident, Piedmont flight 467 was being vectored for an ILS approach to runway 36R. At the time of arrival, weather conditions included light rain, fog, and a low overcast ceiling of 400 feet, with visibility limited to 2 miles. While air traffic control had previously noted potential crosswinds, the reported surface wind at the time of landing clearance was from 100° at 4 knots.
The crew approached the runway at an increased speed, as the captain had added 20 knots to the standard approach velocity to account for potential wind shear. The Boeing 737 (implied aircraft type) was not fully configured for landing until shortly before reaching the ground. Upon touchdown, the pilot delayed the deployment of the spoilers. Due to the wet runway surface and the high speed, the aircraft failed to stop within the available pavement, eventually exiting the runway approximately 3,200 feet from the threshold.
After leaving the paved surface, the aircraft struck an ILS antenna and a culvert before passing through a fence and coming to rest near railroad tracks. The accident resulted in three passenger injuries (back injuries) and minor injuries to both pilots and one flight attendant.
Findings
The investigation determined that the primary cause was the captain's failure to maintain a stabilized approach and his decision to continue the landing despite excessive speed and an extended touchdown point on a wet surface. Additional contributing factors included the pilot's suboptimal use of deceleration devices and a lack of effective coordination between the flight crew members. Environmental factors also played a role, specifically the poor frictional quality of the final 1,500 feet of the runway and the presence of a concrete culvert located just beyond the runway end.