Cessna 525 Citation Runway Overrun at Berlin-Tempelhof

Incident Overview On 23 February 2001, a Cessna 525 Citation conducting a commercial passenger transport from Hamburg-Fuhlsbüttel to Berlin-Tempelhof overran runway 27L at Berlin-Tempelhof. The aircraft was heavily damaged, with no injuries reported. Damage to airport facilities was also noted. ## Flight and Approach The aircraft departed Hamburg-Fuhlsbüttel at 09:44 local time on runway 33, with the co-pilot flying. During the approach to Berlin, the crew learned that Berlin-Tegel was closed for snow removal, while Berlin-Tempelhof remained open. The aircraft was vectored by radar to an ILS approach to runway 27L, flown manually by the co-pilot. The aircraft remained above the glideslope for most of the approach and reached it only near the end. The approach speed was initially 180 kt and reduced to about 160 kt approximately 3.5 nautical miles from the runway. ## Landing and Overrun The landing occurred at 10:19 with a light tailwind of 050°/6 kt and engines at idle. After touchdown, the flaps were set to 60°, automatically activating speedbrakes/ground spoilers. Both pilots noted that the wheel brakes had little effect. The aircraft slid about 50 m beyond the end of the runway, damaged some runway lighting, and stopped near the “Localizerantenne 09.” The nose gear, parts of the main gear, and landing flaps were damaged. ## Weather and Runway Conditions At the time, the area was under the influence of a slow-moving cold front with persistent snowfall, sometimes heavy at Berlin-Tempelhof. The ATIS at 09:50 reported wind 050°/6 kt, heavy snowfall on runway 27L, ground visibility 900 m, RVR 1000/1500, overcast at 300 and 500 ft, temperature/dew point -1°C/-1°C, braking action 48/52/55, 5 mm slush, and QNH 996 hPa. The DWD later assessed that runway 27L was covered with 5 to 10 mm of snow at the time of the accident, and braking action was “poor.” ## Investigation Findings Radar reconstruction showed the ILS approach was not stabilized, with the aircraft above the glideslope for most of the approach and speed only slightly reduced near the threshold. The co-pilot’s high approach speed, combined with a light tailwind, led to a late touchdown approximately 500 m behind the ILS touchdown point. The captain did not instruct a go-around. The new snow rendered the wheel brakes largely ineffective, causing the aircraft to overrun the runway end.