What happened
During a night landing operation, an aircraft overshot the touchdown zone on a runway covered in patches of packed snow and ice. The pilot attempted to maintain control of the aircraft to prevent floating, but the plane made a firm touchdown. Despite the application of moderate braking, the aircraft failed to decelerate as expected. The plane subsequently exited the end of the runway, striking several Runway End Identifier Lights (REILs) and a tree. The incident resulted in substantial damage to both the left and right wings of the aircraft type.
An airport worker observed the aircraft flying at an unusually high altitude during its final approach. According to this witness, the aircraft remained in ground effect and floated, eventually touching down past the runway midpoint. Airport surveillance footage confirmed that the aircraft experienced a long touchdown sequence.
Findings
Investigation into the braking performance focused on the pilot's report regarding the anti-lock braking system (ABS). The pilot noted a lack of perceived modulation in the ABS, suggesting this may have hindered deceleration. However, a review of the aircraft's diagnostic storage unit revealed no recorded malfunctions or failures within the system. The presence of ice and packed snow on the runway surface was a primary factor in the loss of braking effectiveness.