Pilot Debrief

LEARJET 25 near Houston, TX — 2011-03-04

Final reportCEN11LA223
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Date
2011-03-04
Location
Houston, TX, USA
Airport
KHOU
Aircraft
LEARJET 25
Registration
XA-TWH
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Approach

Probable cause

The flying pilot's failure to attain the proper touchdown point in low-visibility conditions, which resulted in a runway overrun. Contributing to the accident was mission pressure to land at that airport.

NTSB narrative

During an instrument landing in night instrument meteorological conditions, the airplane exited the far end of the runway and struck the instrument landing system localizer antenna system. The pilot and the co-pilot both reported that, due to fog and low visibility, the pilot flared the airplane too high and landed too long on the runway. The pilot applied maximum braking and reverse thrust, but could not stop the airplane before exiting the runway. The reported weather was visibility of 3/4 mile in mist and an indefinite ceiling at 200 feet. The operator reported that there was no mechanical malfunction or failure of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Both pilots were likely influenced by the mission pressure to land because of medical considerations for a passenger on board.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
VFR into IMC
First missed decision gate
Decision to land in low visibility conditions could have been delayed.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • CVR
  • 7 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents7

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