What happened
During a cargo transport mission originating in Johannesburg, the flight crew initiated their approach to Harare Airport amidst challenging meteorological conditions characterized by intense rainfall. Upon touchdown on runway 05, the aircraft type encountered operational difficulties that prevented it from decelerating sufficiently before the end of the pavement. Despite the runway length being 4,750 metres, the aircraft failed to stop within the available distance and subsequently overran the runway.
The impact of the excursion resulted in the loss of the nose landing gear, after which the aircraft came to a halt. There were no fatalities among the five crew members on board, and all personnel managed to evacuate the wreckage without injury. However, the structural damage sustained during the event was severe enough that the aircraft was declared a total loss.
Findings
- The primary contributing factor was the presence of heavy rain during the landing phase, which likely impacted braking performance and visibility.