C-208 flight crew reported a runway excursion while landing in shifting and gusty winds at a non-towered airport. The aircraft stopped in the grass just beyond the end of the runway with no injuries or damage to the aircraft or airport property.
Synopsis
C-208 flight crew reported a runway excursion while landing in shifting and gusty winds at a non-towered airport. The aircraft stopped in the grass just beyond the end of the runway with no injuries or damage to the aircraft or airport property.
Narrative
We started the day with one round trip to ZZZ1 airport when I was the pilot flying and made both of the landings. Our first landing in ZZZ1 was on Runway XX. Once we got back to ZZZ2 the Captain was the pilot flying on the leg to ZZZ airport and I was the pilot monitoring. Since ZZZ1 and ZZZ airports share the same runways directions XX and XY and ZZZ airport doesn't have a weather reporting system; we used ZZZ1 weather data to consider the runway directions we will use. On the way to ZZZ airport; we flew off the north location and before we were transitioning eastbound through the ZZZ1 airspace we verified the ATIS information that was current for that time and was approximately 260 at 7 kts. Right after; we contacted the controller of ZZZ1 airport and asked him what runway they currently use- his answer was: Runway XX and wind 290 at 9 kts. approximately. On the right downwind we looked at the windsock and confirmed that the wind favored Runway XX. The Captain made a right base turn; and final as 98 kts. with 20 degrees of flaps. He touched down right after the numbers 'XX'; within 100-200 feet of the beginning of the runway on the centerline without any bouncing; immediately applied reverstrust and full brakes. As we approached Taxiway 1; he asked me to help him with the brakes and I asked him to put flaps in the up position and he immediately confirmed. At that point we didn't have enough runway roll for a safe go around.At the beginning of the landing roll everything looked normal to me since the indicated airspeed was right and the touchdown zone was in the beginning of the runway and; as of every landing I anticipated rolling and stopping before the Taxiway 1 for this approach but the aircraft kept rolling as we both applied full brakes. The Captain managed to avoid the runway ending lights and the aircraft came to a full stop about 20 feet beyond the runway; on the grass and safety to all passengers and crew members including the aircraft itself. The Captain immediately turned off the engine and we both verified that everyone was safe. He went outside to check the aircraft; while I briefed the passengers and instructed them to stay seated and wait for further instruction. Then the Captain briefed them as well; and turned on the engine and taxi back to the gate. We let all the passengers out and took their belongings from the cargo pods. He immediately notified the chief pilot from his phone. I had no signal on my phone and couldn't make any calls. Later on; the company sent over a mechanic with another crew in order to check our aircraft. Which he signed as safe to fly again. Then we flew to ZZZ1 only with the mechanic; picked up passengers from there to ZZZ2- the Captain was the pilot flying; and we did one more round trip to ZZZ1 where I was the pilot flying. Myself and the Captain were flying together a number of times as ZZZ2 crew members and managed all of the flights in the most professional way. We landed at this airport and others as crew before; while he was pilot flying or vice versa.As I look at this unfortunate situation I recognize sudden winds shear which cause the landing roll to be extended and unanticipated; while recognizing that during the roll and using full reverse thrust; a go around procedure could lead to a larger incident. Furthermore; I took a few pictures of the runway ending in order to verify that there is no damage to the airport environment.
Second reporter narrative
Inbound to ZZZ from ZZZ2; we picked up the ATIS from ZZZ1 (less than 10 miles from ZZZ; which does not have weather reporting) and winds were reported to be favoring Runway XX (approximately 260 at 07--both airports share the same runway configuration). Additionally; because winds seemed variable on our previous ZZZ2-ZZZ1 round trip; we contacted ZZZ1 Tower to ask which runway they were using as an additional aid (on that leg; they offered us either Runway XY or XX--we landed XX which felt appropriate). They informed us they were now using Runway XX; up from 7 to 9 kts. Typically; winds reported on ZZZ1's ATIS are also observed to be the same or similar in ZZZ; albeit with greater chance of wind shear/shifting winds on final. Landing Runway XX in ZZZ is less common than XY so to verify winds were indeed favoring Runway XX we entered the right downwind low (approximately 500 AGL) to look at the windsock; which both I and the First Officer (FO) observed to be slightly favoring XX and approximately half full (consistent with ZZZ1's report of 9 kt winds). A typical short landing was made at 100 kts. with 20 degrees of flaps prior to the touchdown zone (consistent with ZZZ's often cross/shifty winds) and full reverse and brakes were applied. The aircraft initially began to slow but at approximately mid runway the plane seized to slow further and we passed Taxiway 1; my personal safe stopping point landing Runway XX. Already applying max reverse and brakes the FO and I did not believe a go around could be safely made and he joined me on the brakes and brought our flaps to the up position. Despite our efforts to stop the aircraft on the remaining runway we rolled onto the grass on the approach end of Runway XY by approximately 20 feet before the aircraft came to a stop. The aircraft did not encounter any uneven surfaces and did not contact any runway lights or other obstructions. Upon stop I quickly briefed the passengers and shutdown the aircraft to climb outside and inspect for any damage or hazards taxiing back onto the runway (none were observed). Engine was restarted and taxied to the ramp to disembark and further brief passengers. No injuries to crew/passengers or damage to aircraft/airport environment were sustained. Maintenance was flown from ZZZ2 to inspect the aircraft prior to departure (without passengers) and was deemed safe to return to serve. While on the ground winds were strong out of the east and variable; occasionally calming before picking back up again (likely when we observed the windsock prior to landing). We believe wind shear also contributed to this event consistent with approaching severe weather/low pressure system indicative of winds shifting southwesterly. In the coming days this and subsequent low pressure systems would firmly shift our prevailing northeasterly winds to southwesterly winds.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.