BFO94LA028

NTSB accident investigation · Mitsubishi MU-3 · Teterboro, NJ · January 20, 1994

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
January 20, 1994, 09:00 local (14:00 UTC)
Place
Teterboro, NJ
Injuries
5 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N306PMitsubishi MU-3
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report April 12, 1995
Report
Approved by Office Director
Case key
8881

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot selected unsuitable terrain for landing. The runway conditions were factors.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

On ground/water encounter with terrain/waterLanding - roll
Airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - icyFactor
Airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - snow coveredFactor
Unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selectedPilot in commandCause
Terrain condition - snowbank

Analysis

The airplane landed on a runway NOTAM'd to have 1/2 inch snow and ice and poor airplane braking for all types aircraft. The same report was on ATIS, and the same information was being provided by the ATC tower controller. The pilot said that when the airplane was slowing from 80 to 40 knots, braking was poor. He said that it was too late to execute a go-around. At 40 knots, the airplane did not seem to be slowing and the brakes were not effective. As the end of the runway was getting closer, the pilot elected to steer the airplane off the runway into a snow bank to avoid colliding with the runway's approach lights. The airplane's nose gear collapsed when the airplane collided with the snow bank.

Factual narrative

On January 20, 1994 at 0900 hours eastern standard time, a Mitsibushi MU-3, N306P sustained substantial damage after braking action was lost during landing roll at Teterboro Airport, Teterboro, New Jersey. The airplane departed off the southwest corner of runway 24 during landing roll. The certificated airline transport pilot, the co-pilot, and the three passengers were not injured. The business flight was being operated by Chattem, Incorporated of Chattanooga, Tennessee under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 at the time of the accident. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed. The airplane departed Chattanooga about 0714 hours and was arriving at its destination when the accident occurred.

The pilot reported that the approach and landing was "normal." He said the aircraft slowed and from 80 knots to 40 knots "braking action was poor." He stated that by this time, it was too late for a go-around. At 40 knots, the airplane did not seem to be slowing and the brakes were not effective. As the end of the runway was getting closer, the pilot elected to steer the airplane off the runway into a snow bank to avoid colliding with the runway's approach lights.

According to an FAA safety inspector, a notice to airmen (NOTAM) was in effect at the time. In part the NOTAM reported 1/2 inch of snow and ice on runways 6 and 24 and poor airplane braking for all types aircraft. The FAA reported the same report was on the airport's automatic terminal information service (ATIS) tape and the same information was being provided by the air traffic control tower controller.

Aircraft

Registration
N306P
Reported as
Mitsubishi MU-3
Category
Airplane
Serial number
A009SA
Airframe hours
3,437
Engine
P&W JT15D-4D, 2,500 lbs thrust, turbo fan
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Executive/Corporate · Part 91
Registered owner
Chattem, Inc.
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Continuous airworthiness · October 1, 1993 · 56 hours before
Departed
CHA · Chattanooga, TN
Flight plan
IFR
Airport
TEB · Teterboro, runway 24, 6,000 × 150 ft, asphalt

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
50
Certificate
Airline transport
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Left
Flight hours
11,978 total · 676 in this make and model · 11,504 as pilot in command · 65 in the last 90 days · 32 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
300° at 7 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
25,000 ft broken
Temperature
3 °F, dew point -0 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
TET