Narrative:
A designated pilot examiner (DPE) was administering a type-rating check ride from the jump seat, and instructed the second-in-command to reduce the power on one engine to simulate a single engine approach. Approximately 23 seconds later, the airplane began to drop rapidly. To arrest the descent, both pilots simultaneously applied full power on both engines, and the applicant (occupying the front left seat) increased the airplane's pitch attitude to 12 degrees. However, the airplane continued to descend and touched down short of the landing threshold for the runway. A post-impact fire consumed the airplane.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The pilot-in-command's failure to maintain control of the airplane while executing a simulated engine failure on final approach. A factor was the windshear."
Simulated engine failure
Loss of control
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Tuesday 18 November 2003 |
| Time: | 14:10 |
| Type: |  Cessna 550 Citation II |
| Operator: | Haalo Ltd. |
| Registration: | N418MA |
| MSN: | 550-0144 |
| First flight: | 1980 |
| Engines: | 2 Pratt & Whitney Canada JT15D-4 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 4 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Aircraft fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | Mineral Wells Airport, TX (MWL) ( United States of America)
|
| Phase: | Landing (LDG) |
| Nature: | Training |
| Departure airport: | Fort Worth-Meacham Field, TX (FTW/KFTW), United States of America |
| Mineral Wells Airport, TX (MWL/KMWL), United States of America |
A designated pilot examiner (DPE) was administering a type-rating check ride from the jump seat, and instructed the second-in-command to reduce the power on one engine to simulate a single engine approach. Approximately 23 seconds later, the airplane began to drop rapidly. To arrest the descent, both pilots simultaneously applied full power on both engines, and the applicant (occupying the front left seat) increased the airplane's pitch attitude to 12 degrees. However, the airplane continued to descend and touched down short of the landing threshold for the runway. A post-impact fire consumed the airplane.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The pilot-in-command's failure to maintain control of the airplane while executing a simulated engine failure on final approach. A factor was the windshear."
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Classification:
Windshear/downdraftSimulated engine failure
Loss of control
Sources:
» NTSBPhotos
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Fort Worth-Meacham Field, TX to Mineral Wells Airport, TX as the crow flies is 65 km (41 miles).
Distance from Fort Worth-Meacham Field, TX to Mineral Wells Airport, TX as the crow flies is 65 km (41 miles).
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
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