What happened
During the landing phase, a Douglas DC-3 performed an approach characterized by excessive speed. The aircraft first made contact with the ground approximately 200 meters beyond the runway threshold, specifically impacting the right landing gear. After rolling for roughly 120 meters on the right wheel alone, the plane briefly lifted off the surface before touching down a second time, again primarily on the right side. The left main gear did not make contact with the ground until 30 meters after this second impact.
Following the uneven touchdown, the aircraft continued down the runway and eventually overran the paved surface. The sequence concluded when the plane entered a ditch measuring 3 meters in depth. At the time of the incident, meteorological conditions included visibility between 1500 and 2000 meters, a ceiling of 300 meters, and light winds from the west-southwest at 2 knots. The runway surface was noted to be quite muddy.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified that the primary factor was pilot error regarding landing distance calculations. This mistake was compounded by the unfavorable weather conditions and the slippery state of the runway, which ultimately led to the aircraft overrunning the perimeter and falling into the trench.