Runway excursion during night arrival involving business aircraft

No fatalities • Batesville, United States of America • Landing (descent or approach)

A business flight carrying eight people experienced a runway excursion during a night approach, resulting in substantial damage to the aircraft's forward fuselage.

What happened

During a nighttime business flight, an aircraft carrying two crew members and six passengers was performing a visual approach. The captain conducted the approach at a speed exceeding the target Vref by more than 50 knots. During this process, the crew failed to complete the before-landing checklist, leaving the flaps set at 20° instead of the required 40°.

The aircraft landed on a 6,022 ft non-grooved runway that was wet from recent rain. The touchdown occurred near the middle of the runway. The pilot initially used intermittent braking before applying continuous braking approximately 2,069 ft from the runway end. Crucially, the thrust reversers were not deployed during the landing roll.

The aircraft exited the runway while still traveling at a ground speed of over 100 knots. It subsequently struck a ditch and the airport perimeter fence, causing substantial damage to the forward fuselage.

Findings

An investigation of the aircraft showed no mechanical issues that would have prevented standard operation. The operator's flight manual requires all approaches to follow a stabilized approach concept, which mandates maintaining correct speed and landing configuration at least 500 ft above airport elevation. The investigation concluded that the crew failed to recognize the need for a go-around despite the excessive approach speed and the long landing on a wet surface.

Probable cause

The crew failed to execute a go-around despite an unstable approach characterized by excessive airspeed and incorrect flap configuration.

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Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2022-11-29 Learjet 45 accident near Batesville, United States of America?

A business flight carrying eight people experienced a runway excursion during a night approach, resulting in substantial damage to the aircraft's forward fuselage.

Were there any fatalities in the 2022-11-29 Learjet 45 accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2022-11-29 involved a Learjet 45, registration N988MC, operated by Jett Aircraft, at Batesville, United States of America.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The crew failed to execute a go-around despite an unstable approach characterized by excessive airspeed and incorrect flap configuration.

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