What happened
A scheduled cargo flight operating under instrument flight rules arrived at Newark International Airport (EWR) after traveling from Anchorage International Airport (ANC). The flight, which had previously stopped in Singapore, Penang, and Taipei, was being operated by a crew consisting of a captain, a first officer, one jumpseat passenger, and two cabin passengers. During the approach to runway 2/2R, the flight crew calculated landing performance using an airport performance laptop. Due to the left engine thrust reverser being inoperative, the crew decided to utilize maximum autobrakes to ensure sufficient stopping distance.
The captain transitioned to manual flight at 1,200 feet altitude. While the approach followed the glideslope and localizer, the aircraft experienced a complex touchdown sequence. Following the initial contact with the runway, the airplane became airborne again before rolling to the right. The aircraft subsequently slid down the runway and came to rest inverted approximately 5,126 feet past the runway threshold and 580 feet from the centerline. The impact and a following fire resulted in the destruction of the aircraft. All five occupants sustained minor injuries.
Findings
The investigation identified that the captain overcontrolled the airplane during the landing phase. Furthermore, the crew failed to initiate a go-around despite the flight becoming destabilized during the flare. The pilot's focus on achieving an early touchdown to maintain a safety margin for stopping distance was also a contributing factor.