Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Sacramento, California
Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms
Location: Sacramento, CA
Accident Number: WPR18CA172
Date & Time: 06/14/2018, 1138 PDT
Registration: N2165
Aircraft: DORNIER GMBH ALPHA JET
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Landing gear not configured
Injuries: 2 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Instructional
During an instructional flight, in a twin-engine advanced jet trainer, a visual, simulated no-flap approach and landing was planned. Audio data provided by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) indicated that the pilot requested a left closed traffic, simulated no-flap pattern, and stated that he needed to go out about 4-miles on upwind. By the time the controller in the Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) responded, the pilot had already started the crosswind turn and therefore the controller cleared him to the overhead pattern, left closed traffic. Subsequently, the controller initially instructed the pilot to make the base turn when able, but then instructed him to turn now, in order to be sequenced in front of slower traffic, on a 5-mile final approach. The controller further stated to the pilot that they would get him the 4-miles on the next pattern. The pilot accepted the turn clearance and reported back to the controller that he was in a turn. A review of radar data indicated that during the final turn, the airplane overshot the final approach by over 1,800 ft to the northwest.
The filed company report further stated that flying a no-flap approach and landing required maintaining a higher airspeed during the final turn and when established on final approach, the airplane's airspeed had to be quickly bled off. The higher approach speed, difficulty of maintaining airspeed, combined with the early turn to final, increased the pilot's workload during the simulated no-flap pattern. While on final approach, the pilot extended the air brakes, which are typically extended just prior to lowering the landing gear, but inadvertently failed to extend the landing gear. The flight instructor failed to notice the omission. Subsequently, the airplane landed on its belly and sustained substantial damage to the bottom of the fuselage. A post landing fire ensued. The pilots reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Flight Instructor Information
Certificate: Airline Transport; Flight Instructor
Age: 49, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Multi-engine Land; Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Rear
Other Aircraft Rating(s): Glider
Restraint Used: 5-point
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): Airplane Multi-engine; Airplane Single-engine; Instrument Airplane
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 1 Without Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 02/26/2018
Occupational Pilot: Yes
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 02/05/2018
Flight Time: (Estimated) 9138 hours (Total, all aircraft), 136 hours (Total, this make and model), 9 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 2 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 1 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)
Pilot Information
Certificate: Airline Transport
Age: 47, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Multi-engine Land; Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Front
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: 5-point
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 1 Without Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 01/18/2018
Occupational Pilot: Yes
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 05/14/2018
Flight Time: (Estimated) 7900 hours (Total, all aircraft), 154 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 27 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 0 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: DORNIER GMBH
Registration: N2165
Model/Series: ALPHA JET No Series
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1982
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Experimental
Serial Number: 0165
Landing Gear Type: Retractable - Tricycle
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 10/30/2017, Condition
Certified Max Gross Wt.:
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 2 Turbo Fan
Airframe Total Time: 2912.5 Hours as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: Snecma
ELT: C126 installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: Larzac 04-C6
Registered Owner: H211 LLC
Rated Power: 2870 lbs
Operator: Blue City Holding LLC
Operating Certificate(s) Held: Other Operator of Large Aircraft
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: MHR, 98 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site:
Observation Time: 1845 UTC
Direction from Accident Site:
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility: 10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 8 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: /
Wind Direction: 230°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: /
Altimeter Setting: 29.76 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 26°C / 11°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Mountain View, CA (NUQ)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Sacramento, CA (MHR)
Type of Clearance: VFR
Departure Time: 1000 PDT
Type of Airspace: Class D
Airport Information
Airport: Sacramento Mather (MHR)
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 98 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 22L
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 11301 ft / 150 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: Touch and Go; Traffic Pattern
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 2 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: On-Ground
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 None
Latitude, Longitude: 38.555278, -121.297222 (est)
Ooof!
ReplyDeleteQuite an explanation of how two guys forgot to drop the gear. Nice looking jet.
ReplyDeleteIt was a thorough explanation though wasn't it! :-) Glad only feelings were hurt!
ReplyDeleteThis jet was owned by a LLC controlled by the Google founders.
ReplyDelete