CEN09CA175

NTSB accident investigation · Gates Learjet 35A · Kansas City, MO · February 24, 2009

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
February 24, 2009, 06:05 local (12:05 UTC)
Place
Kansas City, MO
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Approach
Aircraft
N465NWGates Learjet 35A
Defining event
Approach-VFR go-around: Abnormal runway contact
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Dawn
Status
Completed · report June 11, 2009
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Central Region
Parties
FAA
FAA report
20090224004379A
Case key
73395

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

On this page

Probable cause

The copilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during the go-around. Contributing to the accident was the flight crew's delayed decision to perform a go-around.

Findings · 3

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

Use of equip/info: aircraft controlPersonnel issues › Task performance · CopilotGates Learjet 35A: 1 caseAll aircraft: 9,295 casesProbable cause
Action: delayed actionPersonnel issues › Action/decision · Flight crewGates Learjet 35A: 2 casesAll aircraft: 894 casesProbable cause
Performance/control parametersAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintainedGates Learjet 35A: 3 casesAll aircraft: 1,269 casesProbable cause

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Analysis

The copilot, who was the flying pilot, inadvertently lined up to land on the wrong runway. When approximately one mile from the runway, the copilot decided to change the flight path to line up with the correct runway. The pilot-in-command (PIC) reported that when the copilot rolled out on final approach, the airplane drifted to the right of the runway centerline. The copilot began to correct the alignment; however, the airplane continued to drift right. At 10 feet above the runway, the PIC instructed the co-pilot to perform a go-around. The PIC stated that the right wing dropped and the right main tires settled on the runway during the go-around. The copilot reported that the turn onto final approach was normal and that the airplane drifted slightly right of centerline when they crossed the airport boundary. The copilot reported that the winds were gusting out of the east (left side) during the landing. The tower informed the flight crew that there was a white mist coming from their right tip tank. Upon inspection the flight crew noticed fuel leaking from the right wing tip tank. The airplane remained in the traffic pattern and then completed an uneventful landing. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the outboard portion of the right wing. Local winds reported 11 minutes prior to the accident were from 150 degrees at 6 knots, and 49 minutes after the accident the local winds were reported as being from 160 degrees at 5 knots.

Factual narrative

The co-pilot, who was the flying pilot, inadvertently lined up to land on the wrong runway. When approximately one mile from the runway, the co-pilot decided to change the flight path to line up with the correct runway. The pilot-in-command (PIC) reported that when the co-pilot rolled out on final approach, the airplane drifted to the right of the runway centerline. The co-pilot began to correct the alignment, however, the airplane continued to drift right. At 10 feet above the runway, the PIC instructed the co-pilot to perform a go-around. The PIC stated that the right wing dropped and the right main tires settled on the runway during the go-around which was continued. The co-pilot reported the turn onto final approach was normal and the airplane drifted slightly right of centerline when they crossed the airport boundary. The co-pilot reported the winds were gusting out of the east (left side) during the landing. The tower informed the flight crew that there was a white mist coming from their right tip tank. Upon inspection the flight crew noticed fuel leaking from the right wing tip tank. The airplane remained in the traffic pattern and an uneventful landing ensued. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the outboard portion of the right wing. Local winds reported 11 minutes prior to the accident were from 150 degrees at 6 knots, and 49 minutes after the accident the local winds were reported as being from 160 degrees at 5 knots.

Aircraft

Registration
N465NW
Reported as
Gates Learjet 35A
Category
Airplane
Serial number
465
Airframe hours
18,648
Engines
Garrett 731-2-2B, 3,500 horsepower, turbo fanGarrett 731-2-2B, 3,500 horsepower, turbo fan
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Part 135
Operator
Bankair Inc
Registered owner
465nw LLC
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
100 hour · December 8, 2008 · 51 hours before
Departed
DAL · Dallas, TX
Destination
MKC · Kansas City, MO
Flight plan
Unknown
Airport
MKC · Kansas City - Downtown, runway 19, 7,002 × 150 ft, concrete

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew · 2

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
31
Injuries
None
Certificates
Private, Commercial
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
Seat
Left
Flight hours
1,880 total · 1,504 in this make and model · 626 as pilot in command · 96 in the last 90 days · 31 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Role
Co-pilot
Age
30
Injuries
None
Certificates
Commercial, Flight instructor, Airline transport
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
Last flight review
February 20, 2009
Seat
Right
Flight hours
3,480 total · 280 in this make and model · 2,550 as pilot in command · 102 in the last 90 days · 31 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Dawn
Wind
150° at 6 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
43 °F, dew point 23 °F
Altimeter
30.09 inHg
Observed at
MKC

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.