NYC99FA091

The airplane touched down about 1/3 beyond the approach end of Runway 28, a 5,000 foot-long, asphalt runway. The PIC stated, 'as usual,' he applied 'light' braking and attempted to actuated the airplane's thrust reverser (TR) system; however, the TR handles could not be moved beyond the 'Deploy-Reverse-Idle' position. After the PIC cycled the levers two or three times, he began to apply maximum braking. A passenger in the airplane stated he looked out of the cockpit window, saw the end of the runway, and the airplane seemed like it was still moving 'pretty fast.' As the airplane approached the end of the runway, he could see smoke, which he believed was coming from the airplane's tires. He then sensed the airplane was falling. The co-pilot stated he had no memory at all of the accident flight. Review of the CVR revealed the co-pilot said that the airplane was 'Vref plus about twenty,' when the airplane was 100 feet over the runway threshold. The PIC could not recall the airplane's touchdown speed, however, he stated that it seemed like the airplane was still traveling 50 to 60 knots when it departed the end of the runway. A pair of parallel tire marks were observed 3,200 feet beyond the approach end of the runway. The tire marks extended past the end of the runway and onto a 106 foot-long grass area. The airplane came to rest on a plateau about 90 feet below the runway elevation. Examination of the airplane, including the optional TR system did not reveal any pre-impact malfunctions. The airplane's estimated landing distance was calculated to be about 3,100 feet. The PIC reported about 4,700 hours of total flight experience, of which, 107 hours were in make and model. The PIC stated he had never performed a landing in the accident airplane without using the TR system. Winds reported at the time of the accident were from 290 degrees at 15 knots, with 21 knot gusts.

History of flight

On April 17, 1999, about 1451 Eastern Daylight Time, a Raytheon BE-400A, a BeechJet, N400VG, was substantially damaged while landing at the Raleigh County Memorial Airport (BKW), Beckley, West Virginia. Two flight crew members, and four passengers were seriously injured. Two passengers sustained minor injures. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules flight plan had been filed for the flight that departed Palm Beach International Airport (PBI), West Palm Beach, Florida, about 1310. The corporate flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

According to the pilot-in-command (PIC), he and the co-pilot flew from BKW, to PBI, the day before the accident. They arrived back at the airplane the following day about 1.5 to 2.0 hours prior to departure. The PIC described the return flight to BKW as uneventful. During the descent into the Beckley area, they received the automated weather observation system (AWOS) information and the PIC noted that there were some "pretty stiff winds;" however, he was not concerned, and asked the co-pilot to "bump up" the "Vref speed" an additional 5 knots.

The PIC said he conducted a visual approach to Runway 28, a 5,000 foot long, 100 foot wide, asphalt runway, and he utilized the runway's visual approach slope indicator (VASI) lights until the airplane reached "short final." He said that the final approach was extremely bumpy, but the airplane made a smooth, normal touchdown on the runway, and did not bounce. Additionally, he commanded deployment of the airplane's speed brakes, which was acknowledged by the co-pilot. The PIC stated he did not verify deployment of the speed brakes; however, he felt certain that the speed brakes did deploy. The PIC could not recall the airplane's touchdown speed or the touchdown point; however, he stated, he usually landed on the first 1,000 feet of the runway. The PIC further stated that "as usual," he applied "light braking" after touchdown and initiated the airplane's thrust reversers (TR); however, he was unable to actuate the TR system. The TR handles moved to a point which was determined to be the "Deploy Idle Position," and could not be moved further. He did not recall if the TRs deployed. The PIC "cycled" the TR levers two or three times, and then went from applying light braking to max braking. The PIC stated he was "standing on the brakes," however, it did not feel like the airplane was slowing down, and it seemed like the airplane was still traveling 50 to 60 knots when it departed the end of the runway. When asked if he thought about performing a "go-around," the pilot said "no," because he felt the airplane would stop before the end of the runway.

The co-pilot stated he had no memory at all of the accident flight.

A witness who landed in a Mooney 20E, about 5 or 10 minutes prior to the accident stated he was standing on the ramp near the Fire Rescue building and observed the airplane over the runway threshold about 100 feet above ground level. During the landing flare, the airplane looked like it was "floating in ground effect for a while" and it touched down about 1/3 down the runway. He did not hear any sound of thrust reversers and as the airplane continued towards the end of the runway, he saw smoke coming from the tires. The airplane then disappeared from his view.

In a telephone interview, the passenger who was seated on the right side of the airplane, in the second row, stated it was very windy and it seemed like the pilot was having a difficult time getting the airplane on the ground. At some point after the touchdown, he looked out of the cockpit window and saw the end of the runway. He said the airplane seemed like it was still moving "pretty fast." As the airplane approached the end of the runway he could see smoke, which he believed was coming from the tires. The airplane entered the grass area beyond the runway, and he then sensed the airplane was falling.

A passenger who was seated on the right side of the airplane, in the last row, stated he saw the runway while the airplane was on approach to the airport. He said that he did not pay much attention to the landing; however, within a second or two, he knew the airplane had reached the middle of the runway. As the airplane continued down the runway, he thought the airplane would not be able to stop before the end of the runway. He felt the airplane enter the grass area. The airplane then became airborne, pitched down, and impacted the ground.

A third passenger stated that he felt the airplane touchdown just after it passed the terminal building. After touchdown, he did not recall feeling the thrust reverser system or any hard braking.

A fourth passenger stated that after the airplane touched down, he did not hear the airplane's thrust reverser system and did not feel the airplane slowing down. He felt the airplane depart the end of the runway, "still traveling at a great rate of speed."

The accident occurred during the hours of daylight approximately 37 degrees, 47 minutes north latitude, and 81 degrees, 7 minutes west longitude.

Personnel information

The PIC and co-pilot were hired on December 7, 1998, and January 1, 1999, respectively. Both pilots attended a training program for the BE-400, at Flight Safety International, Wichita, Kansas. They began flying the accident airplane in January 1999.

The PIC held an airline transport pilot certificate with a multi-engine land rating and a BE-400 type rating. He also held a commercial pilot rotorcraft rating. The PIC's most recent Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) first class medical certificate was issued on June 6, 1998. Review of the PIC's logbook revealed he had accumulated about 4,700 hours of total flight experience, of which, 107 hours were in the make and model of the accident airplane, which included about 50 hours during the 30 days prior to the accident.

The co-pilot held an airline transport pilot certificate with a multi-engine land rating and a BE-400 type rating. He also held a commercial pilot rotorcraft rating. The co-pilot's most recent FAA first class medical certificate was issued on October 27, 1998. Review of the co-pilot's logbook revealed he had accumulated about 6,250 hours of total flight experience, of which, 148 hours were in the make and model of the accident airplane, which included about 50 hours during the 30 days prior to the accident.

According to the PIC, he and the co-pilot were involved in 18 landings at BKW, with the accident airplane. The PIC was not certain exactly how many landings he performed at BKW; however, both pilots stated that they alternated between Flying Pilot and Non-Flying Pilot every other leg. The PIC stated that if he estimated that he performed 9 landings at BKW, a minimum of 3 were on Runway 28.

Aircraft information

Review of the airplane's maintenance records revealed it was maintained under an FAA approved manufacturer inspection program. The airplane's most recent inspection was an "A Inspection," which was performed on April 11, 1999. The airplane had been operated about 3 hours since the inspection.

Meteorological information

The weather reported at BKW, at the time of the accident, was: Wind from 290 degrees at 15 knots, with gusts to 21 knots; Visibility 10 statue miles; Scattered Clouds at 6,000 and 7,500 feet; Temperature 48 degrees F; Dewpoint 23 degrees F; Altimeter 29.81 in/hg.

Flight recorders

The airplane was equipped with a Fairchild A100S cockpit voice recorder (CVR). A CVR group convened on May 5, 1999, and a transcript was prepared for the last 13:38 minutes of the 31:00 minute recording.

At 1448:29, the crew received the airport's automatic weather observation system (AWOS) information which stated the winds were from 270 degrees at 15 knots with peak gusts to 29 knots.

At 1449:17, the PIC asked the co-pilot to add 5 knots onto t