Narrative:
The Learjet 35A, N354EF, suffered substantial damage when it suffered an accident on landing at Colorado Springs Airport, CO.
According to the first officer, who was initially the flying pilot, they departed from Centennial Airport (APA) for a short positioning flight to Colorado Springs (COS). After departure, air traffic control provided vectors to intercept the GPS approach for 17R at COS. The crew intercepted the approach at the initial approach fix and descended as required to meet the mandatory crossing altitudes. The airplane exited the overcast cloud layer at an altitude of 650- 700 ft above ground level and the first officer had COS in sight. It was at this time that the first officer reported he realized that visually, the flight path was offset about 0,5 mile right of the runway centerline.
The captain requested control of the airplane and then made the required course correction to line up with the centerline of the runway. This correction occurred about 1,5 - 2 miles from the runway threshold. About 100 ft above the ground, the captain reduced the throttles to "idle", was able to establish runway centerline, and continued the descent for landing. As the airplane descended through 10-20 ft above the runway, the captain reported that the "stick shaker" activated. The first officer was monitoring and announced "stall," and the captain advanced both throttles. Just before the airplane touched down, it experienced an uncommanded roll to the right and the nose dropped. The captain attempted to arrest the roll by applying left aileron, but the airplane did not respond in time and the right tip tanking struck the runway surface just before the landing gear contacted the runway. The crew was able to maintain control throughout the rollout and the airplane continued to taxi and exit the runway under its own power. The airplane received substantial damage to the right wing.
Probable Cause: The flight crews improper decision to continue the unstabilized approach, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and impact with the runway during landing.
Loss of control
SPECI KCOS 151641Z 14019KT 6SM BR OVC005 02/01 A2995 RMK AO2 DZE40 METAR KCOS 151554Z 23004KT 3SM -DZ BR OVC003 01/M01 A2998
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Thursday 15 April 2021 |
| Time: | 10:30 |
| Type: |  Learjet 35A |
| Operator: | Med Air Inc |
| Registration: | N354EF |
| MSN: | 35A-378 |
| First flight: | 1981 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 16955 |
| Engines: | 2 Garrett TFE731-2-2B |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 4 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Aircraft fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | Colorado Springs Airport, CO (COS/KCOS) ( United States of America)
|
| Phase: | Landing (LDG) |
| Nature: | Ferry/positioning |
| Departure airport: | Denver-Centennial Airport, CO (APA/KAPA), United States of America |
| Colorado Springs Municipal Airport, CO (COS/KCOS), United States of America |
The Learjet 35A, N354EF, suffered substantial damage when it suffered an accident on landing at Colorado Springs Airport, CO.
According to the first officer, who was initially the flying pilot, they departed from Centennial Airport (APA) for a short positioning flight to Colorado Springs (COS). After departure, air traffic control provided vectors to intercept the GPS approach for 17R at COS. The crew intercepted the approach at the initial approach fix and descended as required to meet the mandatory crossing altitudes. The airplane exited the overcast cloud layer at an altitude of 650- 700 ft above ground level and the first officer had COS in sight. It was at this time that the first officer reported he realized that visually, the flight path was offset about 0,5 mile right of the runway centerline.
The captain requested control of the airplane and then made the required course correction to line up with the centerline of the runway. This correction occurred about 1,5 - 2 miles from the runway threshold. About 100 ft above the ground, the captain reduced the throttles to "idle", was able to establish runway centerline, and continued the descent for landing. As the airplane descended through 10-20 ft above the runway, the captain reported that the "stick shaker" activated. The first officer was monitoring and announced "stall," and the captain advanced both throttles. Just before the airplane touched down, it experienced an uncommanded roll to the right and the nose dropped. The captain attempted to arrest the roll by applying left aileron, but the airplane did not respond in time and the right tip tanking struck the runway surface just before the landing gear contacted the runway. The crew was able to maintain control throughout the rollout and the airplane continued to taxi and exit the runway under its own power. The airplane received substantial damage to the right wing.
Probable Cause:
Probable Cause: The flight crews improper decision to continue the unstabilized approach, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and impact with the runway during landing.
Accident investigation:
|
Classification:
Landing after unstabilized approachLoss of control
METAR Weather report:
15:54 UTC / local time:SPECI KCOS 151641Z 14019KT 6SM BR OVC005 02/01 A2995 RMK AO2 DZE40 METAR KCOS 151554Z 23004KT 3SM -DZ BR OVC003 01/M01 A2998
Photos
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 Denver-Centennial Airport, CO to Colorado Springs Municipal Airport, CO as the crow flies is 85 km (53 miles).
Accident location: Exact; as reported in the official accident report.
Distance from Denver-Centennial Airport, CO to Colorado Springs Municipal Airport, CO as the crow flies is 85 km (53 miles).
Accident location: Exact; as reported in the official accident report.
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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