# NTSB WPR19TA193: Cessna 550, N320JT, Mesquite, NV, July 18, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Final report - Date: July 17, 2019, 18:44 local (Jul 18, 2019, 01:44 UTC) - Place: Mesquite, NV - Coordinates: 36.8325, -114.05722 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.8325&lon=-114.0572&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Textron Aviation, FAA-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 99882 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR19TA193 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99882/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99882 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19TA193 ## Probable cause The pilot's operation of the airplane while intoxicated, which resulted in a loss of airplane control on landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Impairment/incapacitation: alcohol](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012015): Personnel issues › Physical · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 550, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012015/cases.md?model=2076604), [All aircraft, 87 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012015/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 550, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2076604), [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: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 550, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=2076604), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis While approaching class B airspace, the airline transport pilot was in communication with a controller who later stated that the pilot's speech was slurred, and the controller repeatedly asked if the oxygen system on the airplane was working properly. As the airplane approached a nearby airport, about 85 miles from his destination airport, the pilot stated he had the airport in sight and repeatedly requested a visual approach. The controller instructed the pilot to continue his flight to his destination, in a southwest direction. As the controller attempted to maintain communications, the pilot dropped off radar shortly after passing the nearby airport and subsequently landed at the nearby airport, which was not his destination airport. According to a surveillance video and impact marks on the runway, the airplane landed hard about halfway down the runway and slid to a stop on the left side of the runway. The airplane fuselage and wings were mostly consumed by postimpact fire. After authorities arrived onsite, the pilot was arrested for operating an aircraft under the influence of alcohol. The pilot was found to have a blood alcohol level of .288, which likely contributed to the pilot landing at the incorrect airport and his subsequent loss of airplane control during landing. ## Factual narrative On June 17, 2019, about 1844 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 550 airplane, N320JT, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident at Mesquite Airport (67L), Mesquite, Nevada. The pilot, the sole occupant, had minor injuries. The airplane was operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a ferry flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed for the cross-country flight. The flight departed Tri-Cities Airport (PSC), Pasco, Washington, about 1625 and had a filed destination of Henderson Executive Airport (HND), Las Vegas, Nevada. According to an ATC recording and radar data, the pilot was in contact with approach control and a radar track showed that the accident airplane was approaching the Las Vegas class B airspace from the northeast. The pilot's speech was slurred, and the controller repeatedly asked if the oxygen system on the airplane was working properly. As the airplane approached 67L from the northeast, the pilot stated he had the airport in sight and repeatedly requested a visual approach. The controller instructed the pilot to continue his flight to his destination of HND, which was another 85 miles past 67L in a southwest direction. As the controller attempted to maintain communications, the pilot dropped off radar shortly after passing 67L. According to the pilot, during his descent to HND, the right thrust reverser lever "felt weird," and the right thrust reverser warning light began to illuminate. He stated that he decided not to continue his flight into the "busy LAS [Las Vegas]-HND airspace." The pilot canceled his IFR flight plan with the approach controller and proceeded to 67L. He stated he continued his visual approach into 67L and upon landing, experienced a left yaw and opined that the left thrust reverser had fully deployed and the right one did not. After applying full right rudder, the airplane "ballooned" and soon after touched down "again" as the airplane continued to yaw to the left as it continued down the runway. The pilot stated that the airplane veered off the side of the runway and the landing gear then collapsed. He further stated that he attempted to extinguish the fire and was unsuccessful. A surveillance video at 67L captured the airplane as it was sliding across the runway shortly after landing. The main landing gear had collapsed prior to entering the video frame and a large fire and dark smoke followed the airplane as it slid down the runway. The airplane disappeared from view as it exited the runway near the departure end of the runway. Local authorities responded to the accident site where the pilot was located, and the airplane was engulfed in flames. The pilot was observed to be intoxicated and stated to the authorities that he had been drinking some vodka. The authorities asked about the amount of vodka he drank and the timeline of drinking it. The pilot stated that the vodka had burned in the fire andan accurate timeline was not given. After refusing a standard sobriety test, the pilot was placed under arrest for operating an aircraft under the influence of an intoxicating liquor. About 2 hours after the accident, a blood draw and a complete analysis of that blood was performed by the City of Henderson Police Department, Henderson, Nevada. The results were positive for ethanol at 0.288 g/dL±0.011 g/dL. The amount of ethanol found was consistent with a blood alcohol count (BAC) of .288. This level exceeded the FAA's allowable limit of .040 (Federal Aviation Regulation 14 CFR 91.17) while operating an aircraft. The onsite examination of the accident site revealed multiple impact marks about 2,517 ft down the 5,121 ft long runway surface. A debris field down the runway consisted of main landing gear components and a lower fuselage mounted antenna. The main wreckage came to rest about 50ft off the left side of the runway, near the departure end. The fuselage and wings were mostly consumed by postimpact fire, and the engines and empennage remained intact. The wreckage was relocated to a secure facility and an examination of the wreckage was not conducted. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N320JT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N320JT-2022-03-05), registration cancelled 2022-03-05, S/N 5500271, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 550 (No Series) - Registry model: [Cessna 550](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-550) (registry code 2076604) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada JT15D-4 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-jt15d-4-series) (registry code 52112, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 5500271 - Year built: 1981 - Airframe hours: 9000 - Engines: Pratt and Whitney JT15-4 2500 lbs thrust turbo jet; Pratt and Whitney JT15-4 2500 lbs thrust turbo jet - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Ferry, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: PSC, Pasco, WA - Destination: HND, Las Vegas, NV - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: 67L, Mesquite, runway 02, 5,121 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, Angle of attack indicator, Auto-pilot, Data recorder, Onboard weather ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; injuries: minor; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 6, 2018; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; toxicology performed; flight hours: 17,000 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 15,800 as pilot in command, 200 in the last 90 days, 85 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 100 °F, dew point 18 °F - Observed at: KDXZ, 29 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). - [Accident 20190717012069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190717012069A), Jul 17, 2019: Cessna 550, Mesquite, NV, Destroyed. On July 17, 2019 at 1844PST, N320JT, a Cessna 550, multiengine turbojet airplane impacted a runway surface at the Mesquite airport in Mesquite, Nevada. The… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 10, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99882. 88.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 480 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=8340268&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA ATC and radar track recording (item 2, MP4, 27.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=8340573&FileExtension=mp4&FileName=JTN410-Rel.mp4 - Summary of report-officer report for incident (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 174 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13756275&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Summary-Officer%20Report%20for%20Incident_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Summary of record-blood results (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 122 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13755977&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Summary%20-Blood%20Results_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pd-photo log (item 5, PDF, 47 pages, 47 photos, 33.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=8339993&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=PHOTO-LOG-Rel.pdf - Security footage (item 6, MP4, 26.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=8340955&FileExtension=mp4&FileName=6714813108236558280_stamp-Rel.mp4 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.