No fatalities

2020-12-02: Cessna 551 Citation II (N48DK) — Aviation Stars II — Lufkin-Angelina County, United States of America

Lufkin-Angelina County, United States of AmericaLanding (descent or approach)

On December 2, 2020, a Cessna 551 Citation II (registration N48DK) operated by Aviation Stars II was involved in an aviation accident near Lufkin-Angelina County, United States of America during landing or approach. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot’s decision to land on a runway that did not provide enough length to stop the airplane given the wet surface conditions, resulting in a runway excursion. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A).

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 1781190246Data APIEditorial standards

A business jet landed long on a wet 4,311ft runway, experienced antiskid failure, and overran the departure end, collapsing the landing gear.

Landing and Runway Excursion

After an uneventful 30-minute instrument flight rules (IFR) flight, the business jet landed in the rain on a 4,311-foot-long runway. According to the pilot and corroborated by runway skid marks, the airplane touched down approximately 1,000 feet from the approach end of the runway. The pilot reported that braking action was initially normal and the anti-skid system cycled twice before it stopped functioning. Unable to slow the airplane using the emergency brakes, the aircraft continued off the departure end of the runway.

Post-accident Evidence

The airplane traveled through wet grass and a fence before coming to rest with the landing gear collapsed. A video of the landing roll showed a significant amount of water on the runway. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical anomalies with the brake or anti-skid systems. Marks on the runway indicated that the anti-skid system had been functional during the landing roll.

Stopping Performance

Stopping performance calculations estimated that the distance required to stop the airplane on the runway was approximately 4,127 feet. Given the touchdown point 1,000 feet from the approach end, the runway length remaining was about 3,311 feet—insufficient to bring the aircraft to a stop under the existing conditions.

Pilot Awareness

The pilot was aware of the runway length and weather conditions prior to departure and reported that he should not have accepted the trip.

Probable cause

The pilot’s decision to land on a runway that did not provide enough length to stop the airplane given the wet surface conditions, resulting in a runway excursion.