What happened
During a scheduled nighttime cargo operation traveling from San Jose, California, to Atlanta, Georgia, with a planned stop in Wilmington, Ohio, an incident occurred during the final approach phase. As the aircraft was approaching runway 26, the flight crew encountered significant instability characterized by lateral rolling motions. Despite these aerodynamic irregularities, the decision was made to proceed with the landing.
The impact of the touchdown was severe, resulting in a hard landing that caused the left main landing gear to collapse. Following the structural failure, the aircraft traveled approximately 4,526 feet along the runway surface before veering toward the left side. The movement continued until the plane came to a halt in a grassy area located roughly 250 feet from the edge of the runway. There were no injuries reported among the four occupants on board, though the aircraft sustained damage that rendered it a total loss.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified several contributing elements related to the approach and landing sequence. The crew's failure to adhere to established procedures during the landing phase was a primary factor. Additionally, the following conditions were noted:
- An inadequately planned approach procedure
- Presence of vortex turbulence
- Excessive speed maintained from LOM to the airport
- Reduced separation distance following the landing of a Lockheed L-1011 Tristar on the same runway