What happened
During a non-scheduled cargo operation, an air taxi flight was performing a landing at a mining strip. As the aircraft made contact with the runway, the pilot-in-command transitioned his left hand from the yoke to the nose steering tiller. According to the pilot's account, the nose of the aircraft lifted off the ground before reverse thrust could be engaged. This movement caused the aircraft to begin a rightward veer. In an attempt to correct the trajectory, the pilot applied left rudder and increased power to the right engine, but the aircraft ultimately exited the runway on its right side.
Findings
- The aircraft's nose lifted from the runway surface immediately following touchdown.
- The pilot's release of the yoke to manipulate the nose steering tiller preceded the loss of directional control.
- The aircraft departed the runway surface to the right during the landing roll.