What happened
During the final approach to runway 27 at Komakuk Airfield, the flight crew encountered a headwind of approximately 20 knots. This wind condition necessitated an increase in the aircraft's approach speed. Upon completing the landing, the pilot executed a maneuver to steer the plane away from the end of the runway to prevent a collision with a nearby 7-meter embankment.
In the process of exiting the runway, the aircraft type descended a small 1.5-meter embankment. The impact caused significant structural damage, specifically resulting in both wings being partially torn from the airframe. Despite the intensity of the excursion, there were zero fatalities and zero injuries reported among the crew members.
Findings
- High headwind components during final approach required higher touchdown speeds.
- The pilot's decision to steer off the runway was an intentional effort to avoid a much larger embankment at the runway's end.