# NTSB ERA21LA296: Cessna 560XL, N46CF, Reading, PA, July 21, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: July 21, 2021, 16:04 local (20:04 UTC)
- Place: Reading, PA · End of runway into the EMAS
- Coordinates: 40.378499, -75.965247
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3785&lon=-75.9652&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 6 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 103526
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA296
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103526/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103526
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA296

## Probable cause

The captain’s improper decision to continue an unstabilized approach despite several go-around calls by the pilot monitoring, which resulted in a runway excursion and substantial damage to the pressure vessel.

## Findings

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

- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 560XL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2076702), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)
- [Personality/attitude: self confidence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021010): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot; cases with it: [Cessna 560XL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021010/cases.md?model=2076702), [All aircraft, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021010/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 560XL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=2076702), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md)
- [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 560XL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=2076702), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Approach: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Cessna 560XL, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=2076702), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 560XL, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2076702), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The flight was being operated as a corporate flight with a two-person crew. The captain was the pilot flying (PF) and stated that while on final approach, the airplane was “eating up a lot of runway” before it settled on the runway. He applied full brakes and activated the thrust reversers, but it was not enough to stop the airplane and it subsequently entered the Engineered Material Arresting System (EMAS), which resulted in substantial damage to the pressure vessel. He admitted that he became fixated on landing, failed to take proper remedial actions, and thought he could salvage the approach despite the pilot monitoring’s (PM) repeated go-around commands. The PM stated that about 2 nautical miles from the runway threshold, the airplane’s descent rate increased, which activated the ground proximity warning “Terrain, Pull Up.” The PM commanded a “go-around” which was not acknowledged by the PF who continued the approach. When the airplane was on a 1-mile final, the PM called for a “go-around” a second time, followed by third as they crossed the runway threshold about 30 to 40 knots too fast. The captain reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N46CF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N46CF-2022-10-07), registration cancelled 2022-10-07, S/N 560-5218, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 560XL
- Registry model: [Cessna 560XL](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-560xl) (registry code 2076702) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PW545A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pw545a) (registry code 52185, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 560-5218
- Year built: 2001
- Airframe hours: 5663
- Engines: Pratt & Whitney Canada PW545A 3804 lbs thrust turbo fan; Pratt & Whitney Canada PW545A 3804 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Executive/Corporate, Part 91
- Operator: Pv Transport Inc
- Registered owner: Pv Transport Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 12, 2021
- Departed: OEB, Coldwater, MI
- Destination: Same as departure
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: RDG, Reading Rgnl/Carl A Spaatz Fld, runway 13/31, 6,350 × 150 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Angle of attack indicator, Auto-pilot, Data recorder, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic multifunction display, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Onboard weather, Electronic primary flight display

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 7, 2021; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 5,424 total, 412 in this make and model, 4,011 as pilot in command, 69 in the last 90 days, 43 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours
- Co-pilot; age 24; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1; last flight review November 15, 2020; seat: right; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 1,929 total, 396 in this make and model, 75 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 200° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observed at: RDG
- METAR: KRDG 211954Z 20005KT 10SM FEW018 SCT110 24/21 A2989 RMK AO2 RAE1856 SLP123 P0000 T02440211 $

## Docket (7 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 5, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103526. 7.2 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12850000&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilots%206120%20Accident%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Record of conversation_pilot flying & pilot monitoring (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 135 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12929783&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversations_Pilot%20Flying%20and%20Monitoring-Rel.pdf
- Memo for record_ first officer's email statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 154 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12849856&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record_First%20Officer%27s%20Email%20Statement-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record_operator's damage assessment (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 135 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12929280&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record_Operator%20Damage%20Assessment-Rel.pdf
- Airport overview and emas closeup (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 284 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12928631&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Airport%20Overview%20and%20EMAS%20Closeup-Rel.pdf
- Operator's stabilized approach policy, procedures and training_excerpts (item 6, PDF, 3 pages, 351 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12929651&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Stabilized%20Approach%20Policy%20Procedures%20and%20Training_Excerpts-Rel.pdf
- Photo array_airplane damage and accident site (item 7, PDF, 4 pages, 4.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12930572&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Site%20and%20Damage%20Photographs-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.

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