Accident Sequence
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 airplane was operated under 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 the airplane 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 to his destination of HND, another 85 miles past 67L in a southwest direction. 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 illuminated. He decided not to continue into the busy HND airspace, canceled his IFR flight plan, and proceeded to 67L. On landing, he experienced a left yaw and opined that the left thrust reverser had fully deployed while the right one did not. After applying full right rudder, the airplane "ballooned" and touched down again as it yawed left down the runway. The airplane veered off the side of the runway and the landing gear collapsed. He attempted to extinguish a fire but was unsuccessful.
A surveillance video at 67L captured the airplane 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 exited the runway near the departure end.
Pilot and Blood Alcohol Analysis
Local authorities responded to the accident site where the pilot was located; the airplane was engulfed in flames. The pilot was observed to be intoxicated and stated to authorities that he had been drinking vodka. When asked about the amount and timeline, he said the vodka had burned in the fire and did not give an accurate timeline. After refusing a standard sobriety test, the pilot was arrested for operating an aircraft under the influence of an intoxicating liquor.
About 2 hours after the accident, a blood draw and complete analysis performed by the City of Henderson Police Department showed a positive result for ethanol at 0.288 g/dL±0.011 g/dL, consistent with a blood alcohol concentration of .288. This level exceeded the FAA's allowable limit of .040 (14 CFR 91.17) while operating an aircraft.
Wreckage Examination
The onsite examination 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 50 ft off the left side of the runway near the departure end. The fuselage and wings were mostly consumed by postimpact fire, while the engines and empennage remained intact. The wreckage was relocated to a secure facility, but an examination of the wreckage was not conducted.