Pilot Debrief

RAYTHEON AIRCRAFT COMPANY G36 near Silver City, NM — 2014-05-23

Final reportCEN14FA249
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Date
2014-05-23
Location
Silver City, NM, USA
Airport
93E
Aircraft
RAYTHEON AIRCRAFT COMPANY G36
Registration
N536G
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
4
Phase of flight
Approach

Probable cause

The airplane’s encounter with a strong tailwind and/or windshear, which resulted in an inadvertent stall. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s continuation of the unstable approach, long landing, and delayed decision to conduct a go-around.

Contributing factors

Contributing to the accident was the pilot's continuation of the unstable approach, long landing, and delayed decision to conduct a go-around.

NTSB narrative

The airplane was returning from a local flight and the pilot flew a tight downwind leg for landing on runway 35, possibly due to a direct crosswind in excess of 20 knots. During the base turn, the airplane overshot the final course, and the pilot used at least 60 degrees of bank to correct the airplane back on course and over the runway. The airplane then bounced and touched down at least 20 knots above the manufacturer's published approach speed with about 1,810 ft remaining on the runway. The airplane's airspeed began to rapidly decrease, but then several seconds later, the airplane's airspeed increased as the pilot rejected the landing. The airplane did not gain significant altitude or airspeed then began a slight right turn. The airplane's roll rate then sharply increased, and the airplane quickly descended, consistent with a stall, before colliding with a transmission wire and terrain. Examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any preimpact anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Strong, variable, gusty wind, with an environment conductive to the formation of dry microbursts, was present at the airport at the time of the accident. Several lightning strikes were recorded in the vicinity of the accident site around the time of the accident. It is unknown if the presence of lightning or wind impacted the pilot's inflight decision-making in the pattern, on approach, or during the attempted go-around. The circumstances of the accident are consistent with an in-flight encounter with a strong tailwind and/or windshear during climbout after the rejected landing. An autopsy conducted on the pilot identified significant stenosis of a distal coronary artery without any other evidence of cardiac distress; however, if there was an associated medical event, the condition would likely result in sudden incapacitation, which is not consistent with the airplane's coordinated flight profile.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted the landing earlier to avoid loss of control.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents12

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