# Incident 20051119032529I: Lear 36A, Newport News, VA, November 19, 2005

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 19, 2005, 17:30 local time
- Place: Newport News, VA
- Airport: Williamsburg International Airport
- Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 36.9788° N, 76.4280° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Newport News, VA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.9788&lon=-76.4280&mi=10
- Aircraft: N527PA, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N527PA) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Gates Lear Jet 36A (registry code 5170603, https://openairdocs.org/model/gates-lear-jet-36a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Garrett TFE731 series (registry code 29001, https://openairdocs.org/engine/garrett-tfe731-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: LEAR 36A
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20051119032529I

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) THE AIRCRAFT RETURNED TO THE NEWPORT NEWS, VIRGINIA, AIRPORT (PHF) FROM A TARGET TOW MISSION FOR THE MILITARY AND INITIATED AN APPROACH TO LAND ON RWY 7. THE CAPTAIN REPORTED THAT JUST BEFORE TOUCHDOWN THE CREW FELT A JERT OR TUG TO THE AIRCRAFT, BUT THE AIRCRAFT LANDED NORMALLY AND THE CREW TAXIED TO THE RAMP. UPON POST FLIGHT INSPECTION THE CAPTAIN FOUND ABOUT 50 FEET OF TOW-CABLE TRAILING BEHIND THE AIRCRAFT. THE CREW HELPED AIRPORT POLICE INSPECT THE APPROACH END OF THE RUNWAY AND FOUND THE TARGET HAD CRASHED INTO AN AIRPORT BORDER-FENCE GATE AT THE APPROACH END TO RWY 7 AND DAMAGED A RUNWAY APPROACH LIGHT. THE APPROACH TO RWY 7 CROSSES NEARBY JEFFERSON AVENUE, A MAIN HIGHWAY CARRYING HEAVY RUSH-HOUR TRAFFIC AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. FURTHER INVESTIGATION SHOWS THAT THE PIC FAILED TO PROPERLY FOLLOW PROCEDURES TO JETTISON A TOW-TARGET, DID NOT DETERMINE THAT THE CABLE CUTTING SQUIB HAD FAILED (FIRST OF TWO AVAILABLE), INCORRECTLY DETERMINED THAT THE TARGET HAD BEEN JETTISONED, AND LANDED WITH THE TARGET IN TOW ABOUT 50 FEET BEHIND THE AIRCRAFT IN VIOLATION OF THE AIRPLANE FLIGHT MANUAL. SEE ATTACHED ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

## Other reports on N527PA (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 20070326003499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070326003499A), Mar 26, 2007: Lear 36A (N527PA), Newport News, VA, Substantial damage. (-23) March 26, 2007 lr JET-36A, N527PA was operated by phoenix air group as flight 327. At approximately 0725 EDT N527PA departed Newport News/Williamsburg…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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