Incident Overview
On February 11, 2023, at 1250 eastern standard time, a Gates Learjet Corp 55, registration N600C, was substantially damaged during a landing incident near Rochester, New York. The airplane, operating as a personal flight under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, carried an airline transport pilot and copilot, three adult passengers, and an infant child. No injuries were reported.
Crew Statements
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) aviation safety inspectors interviewed the crewmembers. Both stated that their pre-departure inspections at Palm Beach International Airport (PBI), West Palm Beach, Florida, revealed no mechanical deficiencies. The copilot described the flight as “uneventful” and reported that the landing on runway 28 was “firmly, but not exceptionally so.” He only became aware of damage after landing when he observed fuel leaking following deplaning.
The pilot, who was flying, described a “stable approach” and a “firm” landing. Post-landing, the crew noticed the aircraft leaning left. Upon exiting, they found the left strut assembly collapsed, damage to the landing gear attach point, damage to the left wing, and damage to the fuel tank.
Days after the accident, the pilot stated in written and verbal statements that during the departure roll at PBI he noticed the left wing was down, applied aileron to compensate, and “didn’t think much of it at the time.” The copilot also noticed and provided a nearly identical statement.
Surveillance Evidence
Review of surveillance video from PBI showed the airplane parked on the ramp, engine start, and taxi. The airplane was in a level attitude with no evident wing damage or fluid leaks while parked or during taxi.
Passenger Account
A passenger who had previously flown on the same airplane with a different crew noted that the accident crew was contracted by the owner from Canandaigua Air Center, LLC. She stated the normal convention was for one pilot to “work the iPad” while the other flew. She observed the captain “preoccupied with the iPad” while in control; he later handed the iPad to the copilot. During approach, she heard automated altitude callouts and, just before touchdown, a person saying “too fast, too fast.” The airplane “slammed” onto the runway, oxygen masks deployed, compartments opened, and the baby started screaming. The airplane bounced, and the second landing was “very bumpy.” After landing, the pilot shouted an expletive and apologized profusely as they deplaned. They were rushed to a van because of the fuel leak.
Physical Evidence
Airport surveillance video showed the airplane touched down around the runway 28 displaced threshold, about 110 ft before the runway landing surface, bounced, and continued approximately 270 ft before a second touchdown and rollout. Ground scars and rubber transfer marks consistent with left main landing gear were observed. Photographs revealed skid marks, ground scars, fractured parts from the left main landing gear wheel assembly, brake retaining system, a fractured piece from the strut cylinder, and a fractured snap ring. Fractured parts were scattered over the ground scars. FAA inspectors documented structural and skin damage to the left wing, including torn structure, fractured hardware, and sheared-off rivets on the left-wing aft spar. Fracture surfaces showed overstress signatures.
Crew Qualifications
The pilot held an airline transport pilot certificate with multi-engine land rating and multiple type ratings, including for the accident airplane. He had an FAA second-class medical certificate issued December 9, 2022, and reported 13,550 total flight hours, with 300 in the accident make and model.
The copilot held an airline transport pilot certificate with multi-engine land rating but was not type-rated in the accident airplane. He had an FAA second-class medical certificate issued June 13, 2022, and reported 17,000 total flight hours, with 30 in the accident make and model.
Emergency Response
Airport firefighters were dispatched after the ground operations supervisor heard a “loud bang” upon landing and saw what appeared as smoke from the landing gear. Responders observed an active fuel leak as passengers deplaned. Fuel was “pouring” from the area just forward of the left main landing gear well, with an estimated spill of 25 gallons. A fuel trail extended from runway 28 to the ramp, along with tire marks and metal debris in the displaced threshold.