What happened
During a takeoff roll at dusk, an aircraft operated by the Far East Command experienced a runway excursion. The incident occurred amidst heavy snowfall, which impacted visibility and surface conditions. As the aircraft was accelerating, it veered toward the left side of the runway and collided with a snow mound measuring approximately 1.2 meters in height.
Upon impact with the mound, the aircraft sustained significant structural damage. The nose landing gear was completely torn from the airframe, and both main landing gears collapsed during the excursion. Despite the severity of the impact, all occupants on board managed to evacuate the aircraft without sustaining any injuries. The final assessment determined that the aircraft was a total loss, being damaged beyond repair.
Findings
- The collision with a 1.2-meter snow mound was the primary cause of the landing gear failure.
- Heavy snowfall and dusk lighting conditions were present during the takeoff attempt.