# NTSB BFO87LA015: Rockwell 500S, N717AM, Lynchburg, VA, January 17, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 17, 1987, 01:45 local (06:45 UTC)
- Place: Lynchburg, VA
- Coordinates: 37.360694, -79.220985 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3607&lon=-79.2210&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 7, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11304
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO87LA015
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11304/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO87LA015

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - proper descent rate - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - crew/group coordination - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
- Main gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

AFTER LEAVING CLOUDS ABOUT 4500 FEET MSL, THE PIC MADE A VISUAL APPROACH TO RUNWAY 03 AT LYNCHBURG MUNICIPAL. ON SHORT FINAL THE COPILOT STATED THAT HE NOTICED WHAT SEEMED TO BE A GRADUAL INCREASE IN PITCH ATTITUDE WHILE THE AIRCRAFT WAS STILL TOO HIGH OFF THE RUNWAY. HE MENTIONED THIS TO THE PIC; HOWEVER, THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED RAPIDLY AND CONTACTED THE RUNWAY, COLLAPSING THE LEFT MAIN GEAR. THE AIRCRAFT SLID A SHORT DISTANCE ON THE RUNWAY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N717AM (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: ROCKWELL 500S
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 3095
- Airframe hours: 4000
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-E1 290 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Sievers, Norbert H.
- Registered owner: Jett Aire Leasing Co.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: N40, FLEMINGTON, NJ
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: LYH, Lynchburg Municipal, runway 3, 5,799 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 2, expired; seat: left; flight hours: 1,103 total, 155 in this make and model, 999 as pilot in command, 39 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 60° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,700 ft overcast
- Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: LYN

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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