What happened
During a landing attempt at a local grass airstrip, a 62,568 lbs aircraft experienced a complete loss of braking effectiveness. The pilot reported that while the runway appeared dry, the braking action was non-existent across the entire length of the landing surface. As the aircraft slowed to approximately 5 knots, it overran the end of the runway, causing the nose landing gear to collapse. The incident resulted in substantial damage to the forward fuselage of the plane. There were no reported mechanical malfunctions or failures prior to the accident.
Prior to the flight, the crew had been delayed for nearly two weeks due to heavy rainfall. The pilot noted that a local contact had indicated the strip was currently dry and that no notices to airmen (NOTAMs) regarding runway closure were known to the crew. However, official records indicate that a NOTAM had been issued restricting the runway to aircraft weighing less than 5,000 lbs. Additionally, airport documentation warned that the runway becomes extremely soft when wet and advised against the use of aircraft over 4,000 lbs during certain seasons due to the risk of rutting.
Findings
Discrepancies exist between the pilot's account and FAA Flight Service Station (FSS) recordings regarding pre-flight communications. While the pilot claimed to have inquired about special conditions, the recordings suggest that during the initial briefing, the pilot did not request NOTAM information. During a subsequent conversation, when FSS personnel specifically asked if the crew required weather or NOTAM updates, the pilots declined, stating they were prepared for the flight. The failure to identify the weight-based runway restriction contributed to the aircraft attempting to land on a surface unsuitable for its mass.