What happened
During a landing sequence in rainy weather, the aircraft touched down approximately 2,000 feet along runway 13. At the time of arrival, the runway length was 5,800 feet, and the aircraft was experiencing an 18-knot tailwind. Due to insufficient remaining runway distance, the plane could not come to a halt before the end of the pavement. The aircraft overran the runway and eventually stopped in a ditch located roughly 350 feet past the runway threshold and 200 feet to the right of the extended centerline.
There were 50 occupants on board during the incident, all of whom managed to evacuate without any injuries. While no people were harmed, the aircraft sustained damage that rendered it a total loss. At the moment of landing, the aircraft's total weight was recorded at 71,000 lbs.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified several contributing elements related to environmental conditions and operational procedures. The primary cause was determined to be an overshoot during landing resulting from ATC clearing the aircraft to the incorrect runway given the prevailing weather conditions.
Additional factors noted in the investigation include:
- Heavy rain, haze, and a wet runway surface
- A tailwind component exceeding permitted limits for the aircraft's weight
- The pilot-in-command's failure to use spoilers following touchdown
- Improper application of flight controls and braking techniques by the pilot
- Inappropriate in-flight decision-making by the pilot-in-command