Landing gear failure and post-crash fire involving business jet

No fatalities • Washington-Warren Field, United States of America • Landing (descent or approach)

A business jet landed on a runway with its landing gear retracted, resulting in a post-crash fire and substantial aircraft damage.

What happened

During a visual approach, a business jet touched down on the runway while the landing gear remained in the retracted position. Following the impact, the aircraft slid along the runway surface, which led to the development of a fire. The incident resulted in substantial damage to the airframe. The two crew members on board were able to exit the aircraft safely and sustained zero injuries.

Findings

Investigations into the incident revealed that there were no mechanical issues with the aircraft that would have prevented the landing gear from being deployed. However, several human factors and system limitations contributed to the accident. The crew was aware of existing issues with the aircraft's communication system, specifically that the gear warning horn was only audible through the captain's headset and not through the overhead speakers or the first officer's headset.

Analysis of the cockpit voice recorder indicated that the crew's operational procedures on the day of the accident deviated from the manufacturer's recommended checklists. Specifically, tasks such as engine start and pre-landing checks were not performed according to standard protocols and often lacked verbal coordination between the pilots. Furthermore, the captain had removed his headset to escape a high-pitched noise, which caused him to miss the repetitive aural warnings indicating that the gear was too low.

Probable cause

The crew failed to deploy the landing gear due to a combination of non-standard checklist usage and the captain's inability to hear the gear warning horn after removing his headset.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2024-08-18 Cessna 680 Citation Sovereign accident near Washington-Warren Field, United States of America?

A business jet landed on a runway with its landing gear retracted, resulting in a post-crash fire and substantial aircraft damage.

Were there any fatalities in the 2024-08-18 Cessna 680 Citation Sovereign accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2024-08-18 involved a Cessna 680 Citation Sovereign, registration N680SA, operated by BJR Management, at Washington-Warren Field, United States of America.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The crew failed to deploy the landing gear due to a combination of non-standard checklist usage and the captain's inability to hear the gear warning horn after removing his headset.

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