What happened
During the landing phase at Lokichogio Airport, the aircraft was in the process of decelerating after touchdown. As the crew initiated standard braking maneuvers, the front tire on the nose landing gear suffered a burst. This mechanical failure prevented the aircraft from stopping within the available runway length.
Following the loss of braking efficiency, the aircraft overran the end of the runway. During the excursion, the plane struck a perimeter fence and eventually settled in a nearby ditch. The impact with the terrain caused the nose gear to be completely detached from the airframe. Despite the severity of the impact, all 27 occupants were able to evacuate the aircraft without injury. The aircraft sustained damage that was determined to be beyond economical repair.
Findings
- The primary factor in the runway excursion was the burst of the number one nose gear tire during the braking sequence.