Background
The aircraft departed on a positioning flight with a two-person crew. The pilot-in-command was not flying and occupied the right seat, while the second-in-command was the pilot flying and sat in the left seat.
Flight Sequence
The accident occurred during the second attempt to land at the destination airport on a snow-covered runway. While descending, the pilot not flying called the runway in sight. After assessing that the aircraft was too high, the pilot not flying convinced the pilot flying to circle the aircraft down to land on the runway. The crew performed a 360-degree turn to align with the runway, circling at speeds greater than allowed by the approach categories. During the turn, the pilot flying did not have the runway in sight and was verbally assisted by the pilot not flying. Both pilots stated that they were aligned with the center of the runway.
Landing Attempt and Outcome
During the flare to touchdown, the pilot flying reported an unexpected gust of wind from the left that required a correction. The airplane touched down approximately 20 feet off and to the right of the runway edge. Substantial damage was sustained to the aircraft's wing and fuselage.
Probable Cause
The probable cause of the accident was the failure of both pilots to positively identify the runway prior to landing.