What happened
During a local training mission at Pope Air Force Base, an aircraft experienced a runway excursion. The incident occurred while the crew was performing routine training maneuvers. Due to an improper approach configuration, the aircraft touched down significantly past the intended point on the runway. Consequently, the crew was unable to decelerate sufficiently before the end of the paved surface.
As the aircraft overran the runway, the landing gear was lost. The force of the excursion caused the airframe to separate into two distinct pieces before the movement finally ceased. The accident resulted in 14 injuries among the occupants, though no fatalities were reported.
Findings
- The primary factor in the accident was the incorrect approach configuration adopted by the crew.
- The late touchdown point prevented the aircraft from stopping within the available runway length.