Incident Summary
An airplane landing on a runway experienced a runway excursion and subsequent fire. The airplane came to rest in a shallow ravine approximately 331 feet north of the runway.
Witness Observations
A witness observed the airplane approaching from the east at a high speed, touching down "approximately half way down the runway." The witness reported that the nose was down, and within three seconds of touchdown, the airplane was off the runway and out of sight, replaced by smoke. The witness noted that upon impact, the front end shook and wobbled "like a kid on a tricycle," and the airplane appeared to bounce before disappearing.
Tower Operator Account
The control tower operator heard the captain say something over the radio, prompting him to look toward the airplane. He saw the airplane off the runway, with the main landing gear separating behind the aircraft. The airplane then caught fire. The tower operator observed four people exiting the airplane.
Examination Findings
Post-incident examination revealed impact damage to the nose gear and nose gear wheel well. No anomalies were found in the airplane's systems.