What happened
During an approach to a landing strip located on a snow-cleared frozen lake, a four-engine airplane exited the end of the active runway. The excursion caused the loss of the aircraft's right main landing gear. Following the overrun, the aircraft came to a stop while engulfed in flames. Despite the intensity of the fire, all three crew members managed to evacuate the wreckage without sustaining any injuries. The impact and subsequent fire resulted in the aircraft being declared a total loss.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified that the crew had selected an incorrect runway in relation to the prevailing wind conditions, resulting in a downwind landing. Several contributing elements were noted during the analysis of the event:
- The pilot's estimation of the required stopping distance and approach speed was inaccurate.
- Environmental factors, specifically the ice strip conditions on the frozen lake, played a role.
- An attempt to swerve the aircraft to avoid ground water was performed.
- Structural failure occurred due to overload following the gear collapse.