ERA24LA293

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 525 · Richmond, VA · June 30, 2024

Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal report
Date
June 30, 2024, 17:52 local (21:52 UTC)
Place
Richmond, VA
Injuries
3 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N865HCCessna 525
Defining event
Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground
Weather
Instrument (IMC) · Day
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
FAA report
20240630013039A
Case key
194626

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 failure to maintain directional control of the airplane while landing in rain and gusting wind conditions.

Findings · 3

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.

Wind: gustsEnvironmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operationAll aircraft: 1,199 casesProbable cause
Performance/control parameters: directional controlAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintainedAll aircraft: 3,958 casesProbable cause
Ceiling/visibility/precip: rainEnvironmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operationAll aircraft: 56 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 pilot was landing the small business jet, and about 1 minute prior to landing an aviation surface weather report indicated that a quartering left headwind at 20 kts with gusts to 26 kts prevailed. The pilot continued the approach and while in visual flight rules conditions and noted rain over the runway about 1,000 ft from the threshold. The pilot landed the airplane on the grooved asphalt runway and observed that there was no standing water. During the landing roll, the airplane encountered heavy rain and the pilot stated that it began “hydroplaning” toward the right side of the runway. The right wing of the airplane then impacted 3 edge lights and one location sign before the pilot was able to regain control and then taxi off the runway and to the ramp. The airplane’s right wing was substantially damaged during the accident sequence. The pilot stated that there preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that there was no evidence of tread rubber reversion on either main landing gear tire that would be associated with hydroplaning during landing.

Aircraft

Registration
N865HC
Reported as
Cessna 525 (UNDESIGNATED SERIES)
Category
Airplane
Serial number
525-0616
Built
2006
Airframe hours
4,479
Engines
Williams FJ44-1AP, 1,965 lbs thrust, turbo fanWilliams FJ44-1AP, 1,965 lbs thrust, turbo fan
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Business · Part 91
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Continuous airworthiness · June 28, 2024 · 2 hours before
Departed
TYS · Knoxville, TN
Destination
Same as departure
Flight plan
IFR
Airport
RIC · Richmond Intl, runway 20, 6,607 × 150 ft, asphalt
Equipment
Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Onboard weather, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Angle of attack indicator, Auto-pilot

Flight crew · 2

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
64
Injuries
None
Certificates
Commercial, Flight instructor, Airline transport
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
September 18, 2023
Seat
Left
Restraint
5-point
Flight hours
9,154 total · 2,252 in this make and model · 8,259 as pilot in command · 58 in the last 90 days · 17 in the last 30 days
Role
Pilot-rated passenger
Age
66
Injuries
None
Certificate
Commercial
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, With waivers/limitations
Seat
Right
Flight hours
2,550 total · 10 in this make and model

Weather

Conditions
Instrument (IMC) · Day
Wind
170° at 23 knots, gusting 30
Visibility
0.5 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
3,900 ft broken
Temperature
79 °F, dew point 75 °F
Altimeter
29.92 inHg
Observed at
KRIC
METAR
KRIC 302154Z 17023G30KT 1/2SM R34/1400VP6000FT +TSRA FG FEW018 BKN039CB OVC049 26/24 A2992 RMK AO2 PK WND 17030/2153 SLP133 OCNL LTGICCC TS S MOV NE T02560239 PNO $

Docket · 8

The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 19, 2024, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 13.4 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.