Accident Overview
On February 2, 2005, at about 0718 eastern standard time, a Bombardier Challenger CL-600-1A11, registration N370V, operated by Platinum Jet Management, LLC (PJM) under a charter management agreement with Darby Aviation, overran the departure end of runway 6 at Teterboro Airport (TEB), Teterboro, New Jersey. The aircraft had a ground speed of about 110 knots when it went through an airport perimeter fence, crossed a six-lane highway where it struck a vehicle, and continued into a parking lot before impacting a building. The accident flight was an on-demand passenger charter from TEB to Chicago Midway Airport, Chicago, Illinois. The flight was conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 and visual meteorological conditions prevailed, with the flight operating on an instrument flight rules flight plan.
Injuries and Damage
The two pilots were seriously injured. Two occupants in the vehicle struck on the highway were also seriously injured. The cabin aide, eight passengers, and one person in the building received minor injuries. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and postimpact fire.
Operational Context
The aircraft was operated by Platinum Jet Management, LLC (PJM), based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, under the auspices of a charter management agreement with Darby Aviation (Darby), based in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. The flight was subject to the provisions of 14 CFR Part 135.
Probable Cause
The official probable cause as determined by the investigation: "The pilots' failure to ensure the airplane was loaded within weight and balance limits and their attempt to takeoff with the center of gravity well forward of the forward takeoff limit, which prevented the airplane from rotating at the intended rotation speed. Contributing to the accident were: 1) PJM's conduct of charter flights (using PJM pilots and airplanes) without proper Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification and its failure to ensure that all for-hire flights were conducted in accordance with 14 CFR Part 135 requirements; 2) Darby Aviation's failure to maintain operational control over 14 CFR Part 135 flights being conducted under its certificate by PJM, which resulted in an environment conducive to the development of systemic patterns of flight crew performance deficiencies like those observed in this accident; 3) the failure of the Birmingham, Alabama, FAA Flight Standards District Office to provide adequate surveillance and oversight of operations conducted under Darby's Part 135 certificate; and 4) the FAA's tacit approval of arrangements such as that between Darby and PJM."