Accident Overview
The aircraft landed during rain with an 18-knot tailwind, touching down approximately 2,000 feet from the threshold of runway 13, which is 5,800 feet long. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the airplane overran the runway and came to rest in a ditch about 350 feet further and 200 feet to the right of the extended centerline. At the time of the accident, the aircraft's total weight was 71,000 lbs.
Damage and Injuries
All 50 occupants escaped without injuries. The aircraft sustained damage beyond repair.
Probable Cause
The official probable cause was an overshoot on landing and subsequent overrun and collision with a ditch because air traffic control cleared the aircraft to the wrong runway for the existing conditions. Contributing factors reported include: improper in-flight decisions by the pilot-in-command, improper operation of brakes and flight controls by the pilot-in-command, rain, wet runway, downwind, haze, aircraft over 25,000 lbs upon landing on runway 13 (which was restricted to zero tailwind/10 knots crosswind when wet), runway 22 being available, and spoilers not used after touchdown.