What happened
During the final stages of an instrument approach, the aircraft made contact with the runway surface approximately 12 feet before the threshold, positioned ten feet to the left of the centerline. The initial touchdown was characterized by a hard impact, with the left main landing gear striking the pavement followed by the right gear.
This impact caused the tires to burst and resulted in the lower fuselage making contact with the runway. As the nose gear subsequently touched the ground, the right main landing gear failed. Following the collapse, the pilot lost control of the aircraft, causing it to veer toward the left side of the runway. The aircraft eventually exited the paved surface and came to a stop at a distance of roughly 150 to 200 yards from the point where it first departed the runway.
Findings
- The sequence of events began with a hard landing during the landing phase.
- The structural failure of the right main landing gear was a primary factor in the loss of directional control.