# NTSB WPR21LA054: General Atomics MQ-9, Sierra Vista, AZ, November 13, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: November 13, 2020, 12:26 local (19:26 UTC) - Place: Sierra Vista, AZ - Coordinates: 31.588472, -110.34438 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.5885&lon=-110.3444&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR go-around: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Lead agency: Other - NTSB case key (mKey): 102286 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR21LA054 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102286/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102286 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA054 ## Probable cause The pilot’s incorrect automated landing profile selection, which resulted in an impact with a runway trench. Contributing to the accident was the pilot receiving instruction's and instructor's failure to spot the incorrect landing profile selection during prelanding checks. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action selection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 397 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535): Personnel issues › Psychological · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 200 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR go-around: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The Operations Supervisor reported that the instructional flight with an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was programmed for a single takeoff and traffic pattern to a full-stop landing. During the pre-landing checks, the pilot under instruction selected the incorrect landing profile, which did not account for the current runway displaced threshold because of runway construction. Shortly before touchdown, the pilot initiated a go-around but the landing gear impacted a runway trench, and subsequently the UAV impacted the ground. A post-crash fire ensued and the UAV was destroyed. The supervisor added that neither the instructor pilot nor the pilot receiving instruction spotted the incorrect selection during the pre-landing checks. ## Aircraft - Registration: CBP233 (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: General Atomics MQ-9 (B) - Category: Airplane, unmanned - Serial number: CBP233 - Year built: 2012 - Airframe hours: 5139.2 - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Public aircraft - federal, Public use - Operator: Customs and Border Patrol - Registered owner: Customs and Border Patrol - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Other - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 28, 2020 - Departed: KFHU, Sierra Vista, AZ - Airport: FHU, Sierra Vista Municipal Airport/ Libby Army Airfield, runway 26, 9,501 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Auto-pilot, Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B, Video recording device, Stall warning system, Satellite tracking device, Data recorder ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 17, 2018; seat: none; restraint: none; flight hours: 1,258 total, 113 in this make and model, 798 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours - Flight instructor; age 57; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 28, 2019; seat: none; restraint: none; flight hours: 6,863 total, 6,039 in this make and model, 4,912 as pilot in command, 70 in the last 90 days, 23 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,200 ft overcast - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg - Observed at: KFHU - METAR: KFHU 131858Z AUTO 31007KT 10SM OVC220 19/01 A3014 RMK AO2 SLP163 T01900012 ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 20, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102286. 1.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11692749&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20054_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of memorandum (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 116 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11692518&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=RECORD%20OF%20MEMORANDUM%20054-Rel.pdf - Accident photo (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 226 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11692953&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photo%20054-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.