Incident Overview
On April 26, 2014, at about 1130 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 525B (Citation CJ3), registration N300ET, operated by a private individual, experienced a runway excursion while landing at Spruce Creek Airport (7FL6) in Port Orange, Florida. The airline transport pilot and two passengers were not injured. The aircraft sustained minor damage to its landing gear, wings, and flaps.
Flight Details
The flight departed Opa-Locka Executive Airport (OPF) in Miami, Florida, at about 1040 under an instrument flight rules flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the destination. The pilot executed a visual approach to runway 23, which is 4,000 feet long and 176 feet wide, constructed of asphalt.
Landing and Excursion
The pilot reported landing "a little long" and realized he would not be able to stop on the remaining runway. He considered a go-around but believed it would pose a greater hazard at that point. The airplane rolled off the end of the runway, through grass, and came to rest in a freshwater pond approximately 600 feet from the runway end. A passenger seated in the copilot's seat, a private pilot with a Cessna 525 type rating and second-in-command privileges, noted that the airplane remained airborne past the runway numbers and touched down about one-third down the runway.
Cockpit Voice Recorder
The aircraft was equipped with a Fairchild FA2100 series cockpit voice recorder (CVR), which recorded the last two hours of operation. According to the CVR transcript, at about 1055, the pilot and front-seated passenger discussed landing performance using the flight management system, concluding that 3,000 feet of runway was required for landing. At 1126:40, the pilot reported being about three miles from the airport. At 1128:13, the aircraft was at 2,000 feet on an extended left downwind. At 1129:55, the passenger said "better get it down," followed by touchdown sounds about four seconds later. At 1130:01, an unidentified voice stated "get on the brakes." At 1130:12, sounds of deep rumbling consistent with exiting a paved surface were recorded, followed by sounds of movement ceasing about six seconds later.
Aircraft Examination
After recovery from the pond, an FAA inspector examined the airplane and found minor damage to the landing gear, wings, and flaps. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions.
Pilot Experience and Weather
The pilot had approximately 2,900 hours of total flight experience, including about 900 hours in the same make and model as the accident airplane, and 70 hours in the accident airplane in the preceding 90 days. A weather observation at the airport at 1155 reported winds from 030 degrees at 4 knots.