Pilot Debrief

Eclipse Aviation Corporation EA500 near West Chester, PA — 2008-07-30

Final reportNYC08FA261
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Date
2008-07-30
Location
West Chester, PA, USA
Airport
OQN
Aircraft
Eclipse Aviation Corporation EA500
Registration
N333MY
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Landing

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to obtain the proper touchdown point, and his excessive airspeed on approach.

NTSB narrative

During landing at its home airport, the airplane overran the runway and traveled down a 40-foot embankment before coming to rest against trees and sustaining substantial damage. According to the pilot, his speed on approach was a little fast but he thought it was manageable. Recorded data from the accident airplane revealed that 20 seconds before touchdown, when the pilot selected flaps 30 (landing flaps) the airspeed was approximately 27 knots above the maximum flap extension speed, and as the airplane touched down its airspeed was approximately 14 knots higher than specified for landing. The runway had a displaced threshold with 3,097 feet of runway length available. Skid marks from the accident airplane began approximately 868 feet beyond the displaced threshold, and continued for about 2,229 feet until they left the paved portion of the runway.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted landing when speed was high and brakes were ineffective.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • FDR / data
  • ADS-B / radar
  • Photos
  • 17 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents17

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