Runway Overrun and Gear Collapse During Landing

No fatalities • Meadville, United States of America • Landing (descent or approach)

An aircraft overran the runway during landing due to an unstable approach, resulting in structural damage after colliding with vegetation.

What happened

During the landing phase on runway 04, the pilot initiated an approach characterized by excessive airspeed and a high altitude. At the time of the incident, wind conditions were recorded at 240 degrees with speeds between 10 and 12 knots. Upon touching down on the wet, downhill-sloping runway, the aircraft experienced a float and failed to decelerate sufficiently.

The pilot was unable to halt the movement of the aircraft before it exited the paved surface. After leaving the runway, the plane continued traveling down a steeper incline, eventually impacting an area containing trees and dense brush. The impact caused the collapse of all three landing gear units. Additionally, the aircraft sustained damage to the leading edge spars on both wings and structural damage to the fuselage skin forward of the right wing.

Findings

Investigations into the accident identified several contributing factors related to pilot performance and environmental conditions. The crew misjudged the necessary airspeed and distance for a safe landing, and failed to execute a go-around despite the unstable approach. Furthermore, the selection of an inappropriate runway was noted as a factor.

Environmental elements played a significant role in the overrun. The combination of a wet runway surface, a tailwind component, and the natural downhill slope of the landing area contributed to the loss of directional control and braking effectiveness. The subsequent collision with trees and heavy vegetation led to the structural failure of the landing gear due to excessive loading.

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to perform a go-around during an unstable, high-speed approach on a wet, downhill runway led to a runway overrun.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1982-11-01 Cessna 402 accident near Meadville, United States of America?

An aircraft overran the runway during landing due to an unstable approach, resulting in structural damage after colliding with vegetation.

Were there any fatalities in the 1982-11-01 Cessna 402 accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1982-11-01 involved a Cessna 402, registration N402DL, operated by Darne, at Meadville, United States of America.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot's failure to perform a go-around during an unstable, high-speed approach on a wet, downhill runway led to a runway overrun.

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