What happened
During an arrival at the destination airport, the crew was executing an instrument-landing-system (ILS) approach to a runway measuring 6,001 feet. The flight was being conducted in rainy conditions with visibility measured at 1-1/ 4 miles. The pilot-in-command (PIC) was positioned in the right seat acting as a monitoring pilot, while the second-in-command (SIC) was operating the aircraft from the left seat.
After the autopilot captured the ILS and the aircraft descended on the glideslope, both pilots initially reported seeing the approach lights. The SIC subsequently disengaged the autopilot and activated the windshield wipers. Shortly after, the flying pilot lost visual contact with the runway. Although the SIC considered initiating a missed approach, the flight continued because the PIC reported that he still had visual contact with the lights. The PIC then took control of the aircraft to direct the landing.
Upon touchdown, the speed brakes were deployed, but the aircraft failed to stop within the runway limits. The aircraft overran the runway approximately 1,000 feet beyond the touchdown point. Following the incident, the PIC noted a lack of clarity regarding command authority, stating that both pilots functioned as co-captains and that the flight department lacked established standard operating procedures.
Findings
Investigations into the incident highlighted several contributing factors related to visibility and cockpit management. The pilot noted that the windshields lacked a coating to assist with water shedding, which caused blurred vision during rain. While manufacturer data confirmed that the windshields were intended to have a coating to enhance visibility in wet weather, the effectiveness of this coating can diminish over time. The pilot admitted to being aware of visibility issues during previous flights in the rain but had not reported the degraded windshield performance to maintenance. Additionally, the lack of formal standard operating procedures contributed to confusion regarding pilot roles during the critical transition from instrument to visual flight.