What happened
During the eighth flight of a day dedicated to skydiving operations, a twin-engine, turbine-powered airplane was conducting an approach to runway 15. The flight included the primary pilot and a prospective new hire occupying the right seat. As the aircraft reached approximately 15 feet above ground level, roughly 200 feet south of the runway threshold, the aircraft experienced a sudden and violent drop in altitude. The pilot attributed this descent to a suspected encounter with wind shear.
Upon hitting the runway, the aircraft bounced into the air with a right bank angle between 45 and 60 degrees. In an attempt to recover, the pilot applied increased power to initiate a go-around procedure. However, this application of power worsened the aircraft's deviation from the runway centerline. During the excursion, the right wing struck the ground, causing the aircraft to veer right and strike a fuel truck. The force of the impact caused the right wing to separate from the airframe. Following the collision, the pilot inadvertently applied maximum power. With only the left engine remaining operational, the aircraft entered a ground loop to the right and eventually came to a stop in a nose-down position. There were no reported fatalities or injuries in the accident.
Findings
- The aircraft experienced a sudden loss of altitude near the runway threshold, which the pilot believed was caused by wind shear.
- The decision to apply power during the go-around maneuver exacerbated the aircraft's departure from the runway heading.