# NTSB ERA20LA221: Gulfstream 150, N373ML, San Juan, PR, January 25, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: January 24, 2020, 20:54 local (Jan 25, 2020, 00:54 UTC) - Place: San Juan, PR - Coordinates: 18.45699, -66.092463 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=18.4570&lon=-66.0925&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 101463 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA20LA221 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101463/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101463 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20LA221 ## Probable cause The pilot’s loss of control during landing on a wet runway after encountering standing water. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: wet surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation; cases with it: [All aircraft, 141 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023010/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained; cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot; cases with it: [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-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/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 The airplane approached the destination airport at night, with rain showers in the area and the runway reported as wet. The pilot-in-command (PIC) stated that the airplane touched down “close to” the computed reference speed of 122 knots and “in the vicinity” of the 1,000 ft marker of the runway. At touchdown, the thrust reversers were deployed, and as the airplane decelerated through 70 knots, the PIC noticed standing water on the runway ahead. As the airplane encountered the standing water, with about 1,000 ft of runway remaining, it yawed to the left, then to the right, and departed the runway and struck a fence, sustaining substantial damage to the right wing. According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the airport had a history of standing water forming on the runway due to poor drainage over the previous 2 years, which resulted in reports of poor braking performance. Data from the airplane manufacturer indicated that, for the reported landing weight and weather conditions, the airplane required a landing distance of 3,620 ft on a wet runway and 4,100 ft on a contaminated runway (standing water). The landing distance available was 5,126 ft. Although the precise touchdown location and landing speed could not be determined, the manufacturer’s data suggest that the airplane could have stopped prior to reaching the 1,000 ft remaining location on the landing runway. ## Factual narrative On January 24, 2020, about 2054 Atlantic standard time, a Gulfstream G150, N373ML, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at the Fernando Luis Ribas Dominicci Airport (TJIG), San Juan, Puerto Rico. The two pilots and two passengers were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The flight crew reported that as they approached the airport, they were aware of rain in the area and that the runway was wet. According to the pilot in command, the instrument approach to runway 09 was “stabilized, on glide path, and on speed.” The reference speed (Vref) was 122 knots, and touchdown occurred “in the vicinity” of the 1,000 ft markers, at a speed “close to” Vref. The thrust reversers were deployed from touchdown until the speed reduced to 70 knots. The pilot then noticed standing water on the runway, and as the airplane encountered the standing water, it yawed initially to the left, then to the right, and departed the runway. The pilot further reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Examination of the accident site by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Puerto Rico Ports Authority (PRPA) personnel revealed that the airplane departed the runway near the last 1,000 ft of runway 09, impacted a chain-link fence and sustained substantial damage to the right wing spar. A review of photographs provided by the PRPA revealed that the ground air brakes were deployed and the flaps were at or near the fully extended position of 40°. Weather observations at TJIG were reported only when the air traffic control tower was open (0700 to 1900). The last available observation occurred at 1745, which indicated that rain showers were in the vicinity of the airport to the southwest and northwest. According to the PRPA, there were heavy rain showers over TJIG at the time of the accident. A review of records from a surface weather system at TJIG revealed that at the time of the accident, the wind was from 336° at 1 knot. Automated weather observations reported at the San Juan Luis Marin International Airport (TJSJ), located about 5 miles to the east of TJIG, included rain showers to the west and southwest in the 3 hours preceding the accident. At 2056, the conditions reported at TJSJ included light rain which began at 2015. According to an FAA Inspector, there were “numerous events” between 2019 and 2020 during which aircraft experienced braking performance issues when the runway was contaminated with standing water due to poor drainage. On January 23, 2021 at 1808, a field condition report was issued in a notice to airman (NOTAM) that advised of wet runway conditions. At that time the runway was observed to be 100% wet with a water depth of 1/8 inch or less. The NOTAM was effective until January 24,2020 at 1808. The pilot reported a landing weight of 18,400 lbs. A review of the airplane manufacturer’slanding distance data revealed that at a landing weight of 18,400 lbs, the unfactored landing distance for a wet runway was 3,620 ft. The unfactored landing distance for a contaminated runway (standing water) was 4,100 ft. The landing distance available for runway 09 (ungrooved) at TJIG was 5,126 ft. According to the airplane flight manual, landing performance is obtained by: 1) Descend at steady sink rate, corresponding to 3° glide path, at Vref airspeed, down to 50 ft height, then retard power levers to idle. 2) At touch-down, initiate maximum continuous wheel braking. Continue brake application to full stop. ## Aircraft - Registration: N373ML (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: GULFSTREAM 150 (NO SERIES) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 204 - Year built: 2006 - Airframe hours: 3519 - Engines: Honeywell TFE731-40AR-200G 4250 lbs thrust turbo fan; Honeywell TFE731-40AR-200G 4250 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Eagle Air - Registered owner: Compass Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, October 16, 2019 - Departed: HOU, Houston, TX - Destination: TJIG, San Juan, PR - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: TJIG, Fernando Luis Ribas Dominicci, runway 09, 5,542 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Auto-pilot, Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Data recorder ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 28; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 22, 2019; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 4,150 total, 35 in this make and model, 2,484 as pilot in command, 65 in the last 90 days, 28 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours - Co-pilot; age 47; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport, private, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 21, 2019; seat: right; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 5,981 total, 15 in this make and model, 5,561 as pilot in command, 58 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,400 ft broken - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 29.99 inHg - Observed at: TJSJ, 5 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). - [Incident 20200125001819I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200125001819I), Jan 25, 2020: Israel Aircraft Industries GULFSTREAM G150, San Juan, PR, Minor damage. Aircraft N373ML departed houston hobby (hou) on the afternoon of January 24, 2020 inbound nonstop to San Juan's sig airport. At approximately 9:00 pm local… ## Docket (8 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 14, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101463. 32.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 8.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12292388&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01-01%20Nicholas%20Castellino%20N373ML%20NTSB%206120_print_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA record of conversation - flight crew (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 792 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12293041&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01-02%20FAA%20record%20of%20Conversation%20with%20flight%20crew_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - information provided by FAA inspector (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 120 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12292947&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01-02a%20MFR%20Information%20Provided%20by%20FAA%20Inspector_ERA20LA0221_print-Rel.pdf - Report from puerto rico ports authority (item 4, PDF, 6 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12292398&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01-03%20Report%20from%20Puerto%20Rico%20Ports%20Authority_ACCIDENTE%20N373ML%2024%20ENERO%202020_print-Rel.pdf - Landing distance calculations (item 5, PDF, 9 pages, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12293051&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=03-01%20Landing%20Distance%20Calculations_print-Rel.pdf - Weather reports and records (item 6, PDF, 3 pages, 312 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12292957&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=04-01%20Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records_METARS_TJSJ_TJIG-Rel.pdf - Radar and air traffic control communications - video file (item 7, MP4, 17.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12292564&FileExtension=mp4&FileName=05-01%20Radar%20and%20ATC%20Playback%20Video-N373ML%200042-0055%20MP4%20WX-Rel.mp4 - Photos (item 8, PDF, 3 pages, 3 photos, 427 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12292408&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=06-01%20Photo%20array_19LA221-Rel.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.