# NTSB CEN11LA223: Learjet 25, Houston, TX, March 4, 2011

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 4, 2011, 04:00 local (10:00 UTC)
- Place: Houston, TX
- Coordinates: 29.640556, -95.273887 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.6406&lon=-95.2739&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing area overshoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 6 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 31, 2013
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA Houston FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 78537
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11LA223
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78537/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78537
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11LA223

## Probable cause

The flying pilot's failure to attain the proper touchdown point in low-visibility conditions, which resulted in a runway overrun. Contributing to the accident was mission pressure to land at that airport.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md)
- [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md)
- [Personality/attitude: motivation/respond to pressure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021025): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 53 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021025/cases.md)
- [Ceiling/visibility/precip: fog](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035055): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [All aircraft, 78 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035055/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing area overshoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 400 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

During an instrument landing in night instrument meteorological conditions, the airplane exited the far end of the runway and struck the instrument landing system localizer antenna system. The pilot and the co-pilot both reported that, due to fog and low visibility, the pilot flared the airplane too high and landed too long on the runway. The pilot applied maximum braking and reverse thrust, but could not stop the airplane before exiting the runway. The reported weather was visibility of 3/4 mile in mist and an indefinite ceiling at 200 feet. The operator reported that there was no mechanical malfunction or failure of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Both pilots were likely influenced by the mission pressure to land because of medical considerations for a passenger on board.

## Factual narrative

On March 4, 2011, about 0400 central standard time, a Learjet 25D, XA-TWH, was substantially damaged when it impacted obstructions while landing at William P. Hobby Airport (HOU), Houston, Texas. The two pilots, two medical crewmembers, and two passengers were not injured. The airplane was registered to Grupo Desarrollador Mares del Pacifico, S.A. de C.V., and operated by Personas y Paquetes Por Aire, S.A. de C.V. under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 129 as a foreign air carrier air ambulance flight. Night instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed. The flight originated about 0140 from Angel Albino Corzo International Airport (MMTG) Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas, México. During the landing on runway 12R, the airplane exited the southeast end of the runway, struck, and damaged the instrument landing system (ILS) localizer antenna system. The airplane continued traveling about 1,000 feet past the end of the runway and came to rest upright in a flat grassy area. The pilot and the co-pilot both stated that due to the fog and low visibility they could not see the far end of the runway and flared the airplane too high. After landing long on the runway the pilot said he applied maximum braking and reverse thrust but could not stop the airplane before colliding with the ILS antenna system. The operator reported that there was no mechanical malfunction or failure. The operator stated that the decision not to delay the flight and to land in marginal conditions was influenced by medical considerations for the passenger, who needed immediate specialized medical treatment. A review of recorded data from the HOU automated weather observation station, revealed the conditions at 0353 were wind from 200 degrees at 3 knots, visibility of 3/4 mile in mist, an indefinite ceiling at 200 feet, temperature of 19 degrees Celsius (C) , dew point of 18 degrees C, and an altimeter setting of 29.90 inches of Mercury.

## Aircraft

- Registration: XA-TWH (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: LEARJET 25 (D)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 289
- Airframe hours: 7098
- Engines: GENERAL ELECTRIC CJ610 2850 lbs thrust turbo jet; GENERAL ELECTRIC CJ610 2850 lbs thrust turbo jet
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 129
- Operator: Personas Y Paquetes Por Aire S A De C V, doing business as Usmx Airlink
- Registered owner: Grupo Desarrollador Mares Del Pacifico S A De C V
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, January 5, 2011
- Departed: MMTG, Tuxla Gutierrez
- Destination: KHOU, Houston, TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: KHOU, William P Hobby Airport, runway 12R, 7,602 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 32; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 26, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 5,475 total, 1,723 in this make and model, 2,700 as pilot in command, 67 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours
- Co-pilot; age 27; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 26, 2010; seat: right; flight hours: 828 total, 533 in this make and model, 57 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 200° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 0.75 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 200 ft indefinitevv
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observed at: KHOU, 1 nm away

## Docket (7 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 29, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78537. 3.5 MB in all.

- Summary of Findings by the Investigator-in-Charge (item 1, .PDF, 71 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40382760&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Summary%20of%20Findings%20by%20the%20Investigator-in-Charge-Master.PDF
- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 2, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40382576&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Handwritten Statements from Flight Crewmembers and Medical Crewmembers (given on-scene on March 4, 2011) (item 3, .PDF, 223 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40382577&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Handwritten%20Statements%20from%20Flight%20Crewmembers%20and%20Medical%20Crewmembers%20(given%20on-scene%20on%20March%204,%202011)-Redacted.PDF
- Maps - Airport Diagram and Approach Chart (item 4, .PDF, 192 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40382578&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maps%20-%20Airport%20Diagram%20and%20Approach%20Chart-Master.PDF
- Weather Summary (item 5, .PDF, 330 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40382619&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Summary-Master.PDF
- Cockpit Voice Recorder 12 - Specialist's Factual Report (item 6, .PDF, 7 photos, 682 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40382599&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Cockpit%20Voice%20Recorder%2012%20-%20Specialist%27s%20Factual%20Report-Master.PDF
- Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 (item 7, .PDF, 137 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40382606&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.15-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.

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