# NTSB CEN10LA335: Cessna 525A, N800VT, Storm Lake, IA, June 21, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 21, 2010, 08:25 local (13:25 UTC) - Place: Storm Lake, IA - Coordinates: 42.597221, -95.240554 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.5972&lon=-95.2406&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 6 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 20, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Des Moines FSDO, Cessna - NTSB case key (mKey): 76396 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10LA335 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76396/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76396 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10LA335 ## Probable cause The pilot’s decision to land on a water contaminated runway, which resulted in a runway excursion during the landing roll. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s lack of knowledge regarding the landing distance required and the limited braking effectiveness on a water contaminated runway. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Airport facilities/design: runway/landing area length](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017037): Environmental issues › Operating environment · Decision related to condition (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 34 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017037/cases.md) - [Knowledge: knowledge of equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032015): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 69 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032015/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: wet surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 141 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot canceled his instrument flight plan and proceeded under visual flight rules to his destination airport, avoiding the local thunderstorms that were in the area. The pilot reported that he landed just beyond the runway numbers and applied full braking. He reported that during the landing roll out, the wind shifted from a quartering headwind to a tailwind, and that he was unable to stop the airplane on the runway due to the wet runway condition and the wind. The airplane departed the runway, causing the nose gear and the left main landing gear to collapse about 325 feet from the departure end of runway. The pilot stated that there was standing water on the runway and with the brakes fully applied, the airplane responded as if it didn't have any. The inspection of the airplane’s tires, brake system, and anti-skid system revealed no pre-accident anomalies. The Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) provided the information required for determining the landing distance for dry runways, wet runways, and water contaminated runways. The AFM Landing Distance Tables indicted that the landing distance on a wet runway was about 4,050 – 4,350 feet; and the landing distance on a water contaminated runway (0.125 inch) was about 5,900 feet – 6,250 feet. The pilot thought that he needed less than 5,000 feet of runway to stop the airplane, indicating he was not familiar with the required contaminated runway landing distance. ## Factual narrative On June 21, 2010, at 0825 central daylight time, a Cessna 525A, N800VT, sustained substantial damage during a runway excursion from runway 17 (5,000 feet by 75 feet, concrete) at the Storm Lake Municipal Airport (SLB), Storm Lake, Iowa. The airline transport pilot and five passengers were not injured. The flight was registered to and operated by Clausen Investments, Inc., under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a business flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. However, there were thunderstorms in the vicinity of the airport, and standing water was reported on the runway. An instrument flight plan was filed. The flight departed Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, at 0705. In a written statement, the pilot reported that he canceled his instrument flight rules flight plan and proceeded to the airport visually, although there were thunderstorms in the area. The wind was reported from the south so he chose to land on runway 17. He reported that during the landing rollout, the wind shifted from a quartering headwind to a tailwind, and that he was unable to stop the airplane on the runway due to the “wet runway and the wind.” Unable to execute a go-around because of the runway length, the airplane departed the runway, causing the nose gear and the left main landing gear to collapse in the grass and mud about 325 feet from the departure end of runway. The pilot stated that he needed less than 5,000 feet of runway to stop. He stated that, “With the brakes fully applied, the aircraft responded as if it had none.” A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspector examined the airplane at the accident site along with technical and safety representatives from Cessna Aircraft. The inspection of the tires revealed that the tire pressures were within limits. No chevrons, heat signatures, or skid indications were noted on the main gear tires. The brake fluid reservoir quantity was within limits. The brake accumulator pressure was within limits with the system pressurized and unpressurized. A ground test of the brake system was conducted and the wheel brakes activated when the cockpit brakes were applied. The ground test of the anti-skid system indicated that the system was operating normally. The anti-skid self test using the rotary test switch in the cockpit functioned as described in the aircraft manual. The anti-skid fault panel located in the nose of the airplane indicated no faults. The Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System (EGPWS) and four components of the anti-skid braking system were sent to the National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB) inspector-in-charge (IIC) for further examination. The four components of the anti-skid braking system were the control box, the control valve, and two transducers. The FAA airworthiness inspector also reported that the pilot stated to him that there was standing water on the runway at the time of the accident. The EGPWS was sent to themanufacturer for inspection and a data download. The examination of the data revealed that the airplane's flight did not trigger any EGPWS warnings. Consequently, the EGPWS only recorded one data point for the entire flight. The data point that was recorded provided the latitude, longitude, and altitude for the airplane when it was in the landing configuration and 50 feet above the airport/runway. The data point indicated that the airplane was 50 feet above and about 950 feet from the pilot’s reported touchdown point, which was just beyond the runway’s identification numbers. It was not possible to determine the airplane’s speed from the EGPWS data. The NTSB IIC shipped the anti-skid components to the manufacturer for functional testing. The original build orders showed that the components were manufactured in 2002/2003. All of the components were tested and found to meet functional test requirements with the exception of 1 force vs. pressure test performed on the control valve. The force to actuate the unit was slightly less than the functional test requirements allowed. It was determined that this condition would have no effect on performance and was to be expected due to the age of the component. The SLB Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS) 3 was out of service at the time of the accident. The 0815 surface weather observation at the Cherokee County Regional Airport (CKP), Cherokee, Iowa, located 16 nautical miles west-northwest of SLB, was: wind 250 degrees at 7 knots, 10 miles visibility, light rain, broken ceiling 8,500 feet, overcast 11,000 feet, temperature 19 degrees Celsius (C), dew point 17 degrees C, altimeter 30.00 inches of Mercury. The Cessna CJ2 Model 525A Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) provides the information required for determining the landing distance for dry runways, wet runways, and water covered runways. The AFM definition of a wet runway is: “A runway is considered wet when there is sufficient moisture on the surface to appear reflective, but without significant areas of standing water.” The AFM definition of a runway contaminated by standing water, slush or loose snow is: “A runway is considered to be contaminated when more that 25 percent of the runway surface area (whether in isolated areas or not) with the required length and width being used, is covered by surface water, more the 3mm (0.125 inch) deep, or by slush, or loose snow, equivalent to more than 3mm (0.125 inch) of water. The pilot reported that the gross weight of the airplane at the time of the accident was 10,200 pounds. He reported that there was standing water on the runway. Based on the CKP weather information, the headwind component for runway 17 was 1 knot. The airport elevation is 1,488 mean sea level. The temperature was reported as 19 degrees C. The AFM Landing Distance Tables provided the landing distances required using the following parameters: Example 1: Pressure Altitude: 2,000 feet Aircraft Weight: 10,500 lbs. Temperature: 20 degrees C DryRunway Landing Distance with Zero Wind: 2,990 feet Vref Wet Runway Landing Distance: 4,050 feet – 4,350 feet Vref Water Covered Runway (0.125 inches): 5,900 feet – 6,250 feet Example 2: Pressure Altitude: 1,000 feet Aircraft Weight: 10,000 lbs. Temperature: 20 degrees C Dry Runway Landing Distance with Zero Wind: 2,820 feet Vref Wet Runway Landing Distance: 4,050 feet – 4,350 feet Vref Water Covered Runway (0.125 inches): 5,900 feet – 6,250 feet ## Aircraft - Registration: N800VT (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 525A - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 525A0103 - Airframe hours: 3189 - Engines: WILLIAMS FJ 44 SERIES 1900 lbs thrust turbo fan; WILLIAMS FJ 44 SERIES 1900 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Executive/Corporate, Part 91 - Operator: Clausen Investments Inc - Registered owner: Clausen Investments Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, June 9, 2010 - Departed: OKC, Oklahoma City, OK - Destination: SLB, Storm Lake, IA - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: SLB, Storm Lake Municipal Airport, runway 17, 5,000 × 75 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 9, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 14,073 total, 4,189 in this make and model, 13,543 as pilot in command, 158 in the last 90 days, 53 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 8,500 ft broken - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: CKP, 16 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20100621037359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100621037359A), Jun 21, 2010: Cessna 525A, Storm Lake, IA, Substantial damage. Pilot had runway in sight and cancelled IFR. Touched down just past the numbers. During landing rollout, pilot experienced wind shift from quartering headwind… ## Docket (9 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 9, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76396. 4.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40345602&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - EGPWS Report (item 2, .PDF, 160 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40345603&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=EGPWS%20Report-Master.PDF - EGPWS Data Point Plotted on a Map (item 3, .PDF, 226 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40345604&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=EGPWS%20Data%20Point%20Plotted%20on%20a%20Map-Master.PDF - Weather Observations from Cherokee, IA (item 4, .PDF, 10 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40345605&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Observations%20from%20Cherokee,%20IA-Master.PDF - Cessna CJ2 AFM Landing Performance Tables (item 5, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40345646&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Cessna%20CJ2%20AFM%20Landing%20Performance%20Tables-Master.PDF - Cessna Crosswind Component Chart (item 6, .PDF, 466 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40346041&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Cessna%20Crosswind%20Component%20Chart-Master.PDF - Crane Aerospace Test Results (item 7, .PDF, 185 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40345607&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Crane%20Aerospace%20Test%20Results-Redacted.PDF - Evidence Control Form for EGPWS (item 8, .PDF, 162 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40345629&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Evidence%20Control%20Form%20for%20EGPWS-Redacted.PDF - Evidence Control Form for Anti-skid Components (item 9, .PDF, 57 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40345636&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Evidence%20Control%20Form%20for%20Anti-skid%20Components-Redacted.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.