What happened
During a visual flight rules (VFR) approach, the pilot attempted to land a Cessna 525A on a runway measuring 3,009 feet. The approach was characterized by an unstabilized descent, as evidenced by four separate aural warnings, including two sink rate alerts. The final sink rate warning occurred approximately 19 seconds before contact, with a descent rate exceeding 1,700 feet per minute while the aircraft was 400 feet above the ground.
At the time of touchdown, the aircraft was traveling at an estimated speed of 130 knots, which was significantly higher than the calculated Vref of 108 knots. The aircraft actually made contact with the runway 642 feet beyond the approach end. Following touchdown, the pilot deployed ground flaps, spoilers, and speed brakes. The pilot reported feeling pulsations in the brake pedals and noted that the aircraft was not decelerating as anticipated. In an attempt to abort the landing, the pilot reset the flaps to takeoff position and applied power when the aircraft was roughly halfway down the runway.
As the aircraft continued down the runway, it overran the end, traveling an additional 300 feet. Investigation of skid marks indicated that the initial touchdown likely occurred with the brakes already applied. The aircraft briefly became airborne again after the initial contact, touching down three more times with reduced weight on the wheels. While the aircraft had sufficient runway to stop if the approach had been stabilized, the high speed and late touchdown contributed to the excursion.
Findings
- The approach was unstabilized, featuring multiple sink rate warnings and a high descent rate.
- The touchdown speed of approximately 130 knots significantly exceeded the calculated Vref of 108 knots.
- The aircraft touched down 642 feet past the runway threshold, reducing the available stopping distance.
- The pilot attempted to abort the landing by applying power halfway down the runway, which contributed to the overrun.