What happened
A cargo flight was operating to collect a shipment of automotive seatbelts when the aircraft began its takeoff roll on runway 22. The flight crew, with the first officer acting as the pilot flying, utilized a no-flap takeoff configuration. During the acceleration phase, once the aircraft reached approximately 120 knots, the crew experienced a loud noise and significant vibration. The captain attempted to abort the takeoff after observing what appeared to be a power reduction in the number two engine.
Despite the abort attempt, the crew found that the braking system was insufficient to decelerate the Falcon 20. The aircraft continued down the 11,009-foot runway, eventually exiting the departure end. The aircraft traveled through a perimeter fence and across a four-lane highway, where it struck three vehicles. After passing through a second fence, the aircraft came to a stop on its belly, roughly 2,010 feet past the runway threshold. There were 0 fatalities and no injuries were reported among the crew.
Findings
Investigation into the accident identified that the aircraft was operating above its maximum takeoff weight by 942 pounds due to the crew being provided with incorrect cargo weight data. Environmental conditions at the time included a density altitude of 5,614 feet. While the engines were found to be functioning within limits during testing, evidence showed that a significant portion of a tire retread was left on the runway far from the start of the takeoff roll. The operator noted that because the aircraft was overweight, the extended taxi time may have caused excessive heat buildup in the tires and brakes.