Pilot Debrief

GENERAL ATOMICS MQ-9B near San Angelo, TX — 2020-05-15

Final reportCEN20CA178
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Date
2020-05-15
Location
San Angelo, TX, USA
Airport
SJT`
Aircraft
GENERAL ATOMICS MQ-9B
Registration
CBP213
Category
Airplane
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain an adequate landing flare that resulted in a porpoise and impact with terrain.

NTSB narrative

The pilot of the unmanned aircraft system (UAS) attempted a touch-and-go landing but then performed a go-around due to an unstable approach. The pilot re-entered the UAS into the traffic pattern for a second touch-and-go landing attempt, during which it initially touched down nose first and induced a porpoise. During the third porpoise, the UAS contacted the runway in a nose-down attitude resulting in a hard landing and post-crash fire. The UAS was destroyed by the post-crash fire. There was no mechanical malfunction/failure of the UAS at the time of the accident.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 2 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents2

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