# NTSB ERA19TA122: Gulfstream GIV, N505GF, Chamblee, GA, March 9, 2019

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Final report
- Date: March 9, 2019, 15:47 local (20:47 UTC)
- Place: Chamblee, GA
- Coordinates: 33.872776, -84.300552 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8728&lon=-84.3006&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 14 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 99097
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA19TA122
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99097/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99097
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA19TA122

## Probable cause

The flight crew’s incorrect glidepath and flare to landing, which resulted in a landing area undershoot and the main landing gear’s collision with the runway threshold.

## 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 · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Gulfstream Aerospace G-IV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=3980115), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Gulfstream Aerospace G-IV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=3980115), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Flight crew (probable cause); cases with it: [Gulfstream Aerospace G-IV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=3980115), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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 undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370) (defining event); cases with it: [Gulfstream Aerospace G-IV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md?model=3980115), [All aircraft, 201 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Gulfstream Aerospace G-IV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=3980115), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The flight crew were preparing to land after a cross-country corporate flight with 12 passengers. The pilot reported that the approach was normal but that, during the landing flare, he felt an “unusually hard impact.” The landing roll and taxi to the runway were uneventful. Examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the fuselage, and photographs revealed two tire tracks in the grass about 18 ft before the runway threshold and loose dirt and grass around the threshold, consistent with the airplane's main landing gear touching down in the grass and subsequently impacting the threshold. The pilot flying reported that this was his first landing on that runway at the destination airport. The flight crew did not report any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane. It is likely that the flight crew failed to maintain the proper glidepath during the approach.

## Factual narrative

On March 9, 2019, at 1547 eastern standard time, a Gulfstream G-IV, N505GF, was substantially damaged during landing at Dekalb-Peachtree Airport (PDK) Chamblee, Georgia. The two airline transport pilots and 12 passengers were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by Waffle House Inc. under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a corporate flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the flight, which originated from Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN), Bozeman, Montana, about 1236. The crew reported that the enroute portion of the flight was normal. Upon arrival into the Atlanta area, air traffic control advised them runway 34 at PDK, which was 3,967-ft-long, was in use and runway 21L/ 3R, which was 6,001-ft-long, was closed until 1600, which was about 20 minutes from then. The crew requested to hold until the longer runway opened, but shortly thereafter after determining they had the landing performance, advised that they would be able to land on runway 34. The pilot reported that the approach to landing was normal, but during the landing flare, he felt an "unusually hard impact." The landing roll and taxi to the ramp were uneventful. During a hard landing inspection, substantial damage was found to the fuselage. The flight crew did not report any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane. The pilot flying reported that this was his first landing on runway 34 at PDK Photographs provided by the airport manager revealed that two tire tracks commenced in the grass about 18 ft prior to the runway 34 threshold, and lose dirt and grass were observed around the threshold. According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airman records, the pilot flying held an airline transport pilot certificate and was issued a first-class medical certificate in January 2019. He reported a total flight time of 4,920 hours, of which 125 hours were in the accident airplane make and model. The second pilot held an airline transport pilot certificate and was issued a first-class medical certificate in May 2018. He reported a total flight time of 8,139 flight hours, of which 972 hours were in the accident airplane make and model. According to FAA airworthiness records, the airplane was powered by two turbo-fan Rolls-Royce Tay 611-8 engines. The most recent continuous airworthiness inspection was completed in February 2019. At 1553, the reported weather at PDK included 6 statute miles visibility, haze, a broken cloud layer at 3,700 ft above ground level, variable wind at 4 knots, temperature 17°C, dew point 12°C, and barometric pressure of 30.01 inches of mercury.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N505GF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N505GF-2019-08-21), registration cancelled 2019-08-21, S/N 1275, built 1995 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Gulfstream GIV (UNDESIGNAT)
- Registry model: [Gulfstream Aerospace G-IV](https://openairdocs.org/model/gulfstream-aerospace-g-iv) (registry code 3980115) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rolls-Royce TAY-611SER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-tay-611ser) (registry code 54561, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1275
- Year built: 1995
- Airframe hours: 14406.3
- Engines: Rolls-Royce TAY 611-8 13850 lbs thrust turbo fan; Rolls-Royce TAY 611-8 13850 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Executive/Corporate, Part 91
- Operator: Waffle House Inc.
- Registered owner: WH Air Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, February 20, 2019
- Departed: BZN, Bozeman, MT
- Destination: PDK, Chamblee, GA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: PDK, Dekalb-Peachtree, runway 34, 3,967 × 150 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Onboard weather, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Data recorder, Auto-pilot

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 24, 2019; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 4,920 total, 125 in this make and model, 2,800 as pilot in command, 36 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days
- Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 10, 2018; seat: right; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 8,139 total, 972 in this make and model, 5,789 as pilot in command, 46 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 3.4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,700 ft broken
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observed at: KPDK

## 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 20190309001089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190309001089A), Mar 9, 2019: Gulfstream Aerospace G-IV, Chamblee, GA, Substantial damage. March 9, 2019 N505GF a Gulfstream Aerospace corp. G-IV s/n: 1275 was substantially damaged during landing touchdown just short of runway 34 at Dekalb-Peachtree…

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 21, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99097. 6.3 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 5.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40476958&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Record of Conversation (Pilot Flying) (item 2, .PDF, 80 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40476959&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20(Pilot%20Flying)-Master.PDF
- Pilot Monitoring Statement (item 3, .PDF, 129 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40476960&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Monitoring%20Statement-Master.PDF
- Photo Array (item 4, .PDF, 4 photos, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40476961&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20Array-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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