# NTSB WPR24LA025: Gulfstream Aerospace Commander 690C, N840KB, Reno, NV, October 26, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: October 26, 2023, 15:02 local (22:02 UTC)
- Place: Reno, NV · short of runway on airport property
- Coordinates: 39.67, -119.88
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6700&lon=-119.8800&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 193324
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR24LA025
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193324/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA025

## Probable cause

The pilot applicant’s excessive nose down pitch, and the check pilot’s delayed remedial action, which resulted in an impact with terrain.

## Findings

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

- [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Gulfstream Aerospace 840, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=3980400), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Gulfstream Aerospace 840, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=3980400), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Gulfstream Aerospace 840, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=3980400), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270) (defining event); cases with it: [Gulfstream Aerospace 840, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md?model=3980400), [All aircraft, 346 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Gulfstream Aerospace 840, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=3980400), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The check pilot of the multi engine airplane reported that he was conducting a familiarization flight with a pilot that his company was in the process of hiring (pilot applicant.) On final approach, at approximately 100 ft above ground level, the pilot applicant made a pitch adjustment and the airplane’s nose pitched down excessively. Both pilots pulled back on the yokes to arrest the descent, but the airplane impacted terrain short of the runway, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. The check pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N840KB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N840KB), registered now, S/N 11640, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GULFSTREAM AEROSPACE Commander 690C
- Registry model: [Gulfstream Aerospace 840](https://openairdocs.org/model/gulfstream-aerospace-840) (registry code 3980400) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [AiResearch TPE331 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/airesearch-tpe331-series) (registry code 01514, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 11640
- Year built: 1980
- Airframe hours: 7142
- Engines: Honeywell TPE331-10T-513K 717 horsepower turbo prop; Honeywell TPE331-10T-513K 717 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Other work use, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, August 9, 2023
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: RTS, Reno/Stead, runway 08, 7,608 × 150 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Stall warning system, Satellite tracking device, Onboard weather, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 14, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 3,905.6 total, 3,512 as pilot in command, 70 in the last 90 days
- Check pilot; age 62; injuries: serious; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 25, 2023; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 6,461 total, 1,200 in this make and model, 4,700 as pilot in command, 161 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 21 °F
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observed at: KRTS
- METAR: KRTS 262215Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 08/M06 A3013

## 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 20231026019099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20231026019099A), Oct 26, 2023: Gulfstream Aerospace 840, Reno, NV, Substantial damage. A new hire training orientation flight was being conducted. During the approach for landing, the approach speed was too fast, so a go around was initiated. A…

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.