CEN20LA083

NTSB accident investigation · Piaggio P180 · Broomfield, CO · February 13, 2020

Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal report
Date
February 12, 2020, 21:15 local (Feb 13, 2020, 04:15 UTC)
Place
Broomfield, CO
Injuries
4 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N677PPiaggio P180
Defining event
Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion
Weather
Instrument (IMC) · Night
Status
Completed
Report
Approved by Office Director
Investigation class
Class 3
NTSB office
Central Region
Parties
FAA Flight Standards District Office
FAA report
20200212004029A
Case key
100945

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 pilot’s loss of directional control on the snow-covered runway, which resulted in a runway excursion.

Findings · 4

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 · PilotPiaggio P180: 1 caseAll aircraft: 9,295 casesProbable cause
Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: snow/slush/ice covered surfaceEnvironmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operationPiaggio P180: 1 caseAll aircraft: 219 casesProbable cause
Performance/control parameters: directional controlAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintainedPiaggio P180: 1 caseAll aircraft: 3,958 casesProbable cause
Performance/control parameters: surface speed/brakingAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintainedPiaggio P180: 1 caseAll aircraft: 238 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 private pilot was making an instrument approach at night in instrument meteorological conditions. The control tower advised that packed snow and moderate braking were reported on the runway. The pilot reported that the approach was on speed and the airplane initially touched down smoothly. When the nosewheel touched down, the airplane yawed to the left, and the pilot’s efforts to maintain directional control were not successful. The airplane slid on the surface, departed the left side of the runway, and spun around, then the right wing tip and canard contacted the ground, resulting in substantial damage to the right wing, canard, and aileron. Postaccident examination revealed both nose gear tires were deflated, and the right main tire had low air pressure. However, the pilot did not report any pre-accident mechanical malfunction or anomaly with the airplane that may have precluded normal operation.

Factual narrative

On February 12, 2020, about 2115 mountain standard time, a Piaggio P180, N677P, went off the left side of runway 30R after landing at Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport (BJC), Broomfield, Colorado. The private pilot and his three passengers were not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to JMC Air, LLC, Dillsburgh, Pennsylvania, and operated by the pilot under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a business flight. Night instrument meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules flight plan had been filed. The flight originated from Bob Hope Airport (BUR), Burbank, California, at 1745 Pacific standard time, and was destined for BJC. According to the pilot's statement, the control tower advised that there was packed snow on the runway and moderate braking was reported. The approach was made at 130 knots (Vref +10). He observed the runway lights at 6,800 ft and touched down smoothly about 112 knots. When the nose wheel touched down, the airplane yawed to the left. Right rudder was applied, but the airplane continued to drift left of centerline. Both propellers were in beta range, and he placed the right propeller into reverse in an attempt to move the nose to the right. Brakes were also applied but to no avail. The airplane slid on the surface and departed the left side of the runway and skidded through the snow. The airplane spun in the snow and the right wing tip and canard contacted the ground. Post-accident examination revealed both nose gear tires were deflated and the right main tire was low on air. The right aileron was also damaged. The pilot did not report any pre-accident mechanical malfunction or anomaly with the airplane that may have contributed to the accident.

Aircraft

Registration
N677P
Reported as
Piaggio P180 (AVANTI)
Category
Airplane
Serial number
1019
Built
1992
Airframe hours
5,256
Engines
Pratt & Whitney PT6-66, 800 horsepower, turbo propPratt & Whitney PT6A SER, 800 horsepower, turbo prop
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Business · Part 91
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · March 19, 2019
Departed
BUR · Burbank, CA
Destination
BJC · Broomfield, CO
Flight plan
IFR
Airport
BJC · Rocky Mountain Metropolitan, runway 30R, 9,000 × 100 ft, concrete
Equipment
Electronic primary flight display, Onboard weather, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic multifunction display

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

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
40
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
Last flight review
January 22, 2020
Seat
Left
Flight hours
1,829 total · 38 in this make and model · 1,704 as pilot in command · 36 in the last 90 days · 31 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Instrument (IMC) · Night
Wind
40° at 5 knots
Visibility
1 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
600 ft overcast
Temperature
23 °F, dew point 21 °F
Altimeter
30.04 inHg
Observed at
BJC

Docket · 8

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 3, 2020, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.6 MB in all.

FAA reports on this event · 1

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