What happened
A flight crew and three passengers were engaged in a visual flight rules cross-country flight that proceeded normally until the final approach. During the descent, the crew noted difficulty locating the airport and managed increased workloads due to nearby traffic and cloud maneuvering. As the aircraft approached the runway, it crossed a ridgeline at 710 ft agl, triggering a terrain warning. The crew noted the aircraft was traveling significantly faster than the reference speed, and the pilot reduced throttles to idle nearly two minutes before touchdown.
In an attempt to manage the excess speed, the pilot partially deployed speedbrakes below 500 ft agl, which violated the airplane flight manual. The descent rate reached 1,500 fpm, far exceeding the maximum allowed 600 fpm. Upon the initial touchdown, the pilot bypassed the required speedbrake deployment and instead attempted to use thrust reversers immediately. Due to the aircraft bouncing, the reversers did not unlock until the third touchdown. During the subsequent airborne phase, the thrust reverser actuators lost hydraulic power, causing the reversers to be pulled open by aerodynamic forces.
When the pilot attempted a go-around, the electronic engine controls restricted power increases because the reversers were not stowed. On the fourth and final touchdown, the aircraft struck the runway heavily, causing the right main landing gear to collapse. The aircraft exited the paved surface and stopped approximately 600 ft past the runway threshold. All occupants evacuated via the cabin door, but the aircraft was destroyed by a post-accident fire. No mechanical failures were found in the systems or structure.
Findings
- The approach was unstabilized, characterized by excessive airspeed and a descent rate that exceeded manufacturer limits.
- The pilot failed to execute a go-around despite recognizing the unstable approach and the high speed of the aircraft.
- Improper sequencing of deceleration devices, specifically attempting to use thrust reversers before speedbrakes, contributed to the loss of control.
- The crew did not utilize a committed-to-stop point, leading to an ambiguous decision-making process during the critical landing phase.