What happened
Following a positioning flight, the crew attempted to land on a 4,100-foot runway that was covered with a light layer of snow. The aircraft, weighing approximately 11,000 lbs, touched down within the first 1,000 feet of the runway. Although the pilot flying applied significant braking, the aircraft failed to decelerate as anticipated. As the plane reached roughly two-thirds of the runway length, the crew realized the aircraft had only lost half of its approach speed and was unlikely to stop before the end of the pavement.
In an attempt to prevent the overrun, the crew applied engine power to abort the landing. While the nose landing gear briefly lifted, there was insufficient remaining runway to achieve takeoff. The crew subsequently reduced the engines to idle, but the aircraft continued past the runway end, breaching the airport fence and a guardrail. The aircraft then crossed a highway before coming to a stop in a nearby field.
Findings
An investigation into the incident revealed no mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have prevented the aircraft from operating normally. Notably, the tires showed no evidence of skidding or flat spots. However, the flaps were found in the "ground flaps" configuration, a setting that is not permitted for takeoff operations. The investigation concluded that the crew's decision to land on a snow-covered runway that lacked sufficient length for the existing conditions was the primary factor in the accident.