What happened
On the early morning of 21 August 2007, a Learjet 35A, registration RP-C5354, arrived at Singapore Seletar Airport from Medan, Indonesia, operating a non-scheduled revenue medivac flight. The aircraft carried two crew members and five passengers.
During the approach to Runway 21, the crew found the aircraft too high and requested a circuit to land on Runway 03. Upon attempting the second approach to Runway 03, the pilot flying performed an early flare, causing the aircraft to float and land significantly beyond the intended touchdown zone.
While attempting to stop the aircraft using manual braking, the crew failed to deploy the spoilers. As the aircraft approached the end of the runway, the crew steered the plane onto the grass verge to avoid a nearby water channel. During the excursion, the nose wheel struck an electrical box, causing it to break away from the aircraft. The aircraft eventually came to a halt at the intersection of Runway 03 and Taxiway W1. There were no injuries among the passengers or crew.
The investigation
The investigation by the AAIB focused on aircraft handling, flight recorder accessibility, and safety management. Investigators found that the pilots had very limited experience on the Learjet 35A type. Furthermore, the investigation revealed that the pilot flying was operating under a Temporary Airman Certificate that did not permit him to serve as a co-pilot on revenue flights, nor did it allow him to fly without a rated instructor.
Technical examinations of the flight recorders were hindered because the operator could not provide the necessary parameter allocation and conversion documentation required to decode the raw FDR data. Additionally, the investigation noted that the aircraft was being operated as a General Aviation category aircraft for revenue purposes, which was a violation of the applicable Philippine regulatory framework.
Findings
- The primary cause of the overrun was an early flare by the pilot flying, which resulted in a long touchdown.
- The crew's preoccupation with manual braking led to the failure to deploy the aircraft spoilers.
- The pilot flying was not legally qualified to perform duties on a revenue flight under the restrictions of his temporary certificate.
- There was a significant lack of safety oversight by the operator, including the absence of a Safety Management System (SMS).
- The operator failed to maintain the documentation necessary to interpret flight data recorder outputs.
Safety action
- The Philippine civil aviation authority (CAAP) has since suspended the operator's operating certificate.
- The AAIB recommended that the CAAP ensure the operator implements a robust safety management system before any suspension is lifted.
- A recommendation was made to ensure Philippine air operators maintain the necessary documentation for FDR data readout to assist future accident investigations.