# NTSB CEN20CA178: General Atomics MQ-9B, San Angelo, TX, May 15, 2020

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report
- Date: May 15, 2020, 10:26 local (15:26 UTC)
- Place: San Angelo, TX
- Coordinates: 31.357778, -100.496391 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.3578&lon=-100.4964&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration; Lubbock FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 101277
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20CA178
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101277/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101277
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA178

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain an adequate landing flare that resulted in a porpoise and impact with terrain.

## Findings

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

- [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/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: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: 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

The pilot of the unmanned aircraft system (UAS) attempted a touch-and-go landing but then performed a go-around due to an unstable approach. The pilot re-entered the UAS into the traffic pattern for a second touch-and-go landing attempt, during which it initially touched down nose first and induced a porpoise. During the third porpoise, the UAS contacted the runway in a nose-down attitude resulting in a hard landing and post-crash fire. The UAS was destroyed by the post-crash fire. There was no mechanical malfunction/failure of the UAS at the time of the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: CBP213 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: GENERAL ATOMICS MQ-9B
- Category: Airplane, unmanned
- Serial number: Unknown
- Year built: 2011
- Engines: Honeywell TPE331-10YGD turbo prop
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Public use
- Operator: Customs and Border Protection
- Registered owner: Customs and Border Protection
- Airworthiness certificate: Certificate of authorization or waiver (COA)
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, February 24, 2020
- Departed: SJT`, San Angelo, TX
- Destination: SJT`, San Angelo, TX
- Airport: SJT`, San Angelo Regional/Mathis Fie, runway 18, 8,049 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 16, 2020; flight hours: 4,629 total
- Other flight crew; injuries: none; seat: none

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observed at: SJT

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 10, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101277. 2.8 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486821&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Wreckage Photo (item 2, .PDF, 627 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486822&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Wreckage%20Photo-Master.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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