Premium research interface

The modern interface for aviation safety intelligence.

Search investigations, review source evidence, monitor watched reports, and trace long-term patterns from one calm, data-first workspace.

63k+
Reports indexed
1940-2026
Coverage
Recent
Last data refresh
Featured Report

Loading…

Loading featured report…

Loading…
Open Report

Safety trends by operating rule

Track fatal and non-fatal accident patterns across Part 91, Part 135, and Part 121 operations.

Loading trend charts…

Browse the aviation graph

Move quickly by aircraft, airport, operator, and time with indexes built for research, not wandering.

Last Data Update

By Decade

By Month

Aircraft Manufacturer

More manufacturers

Airports

More airports

Operators

More operators

About

Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

The goal is practical safety education: make it faster to find relevant investigations, compare similar events, review factual records, and understand the evidence behind probable-cause and preliminary reports.

The investigative work and source records belong to the National Transportation Safety Board and the published investigation record. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NTSB.

FAQs

NTSB Report

December 21, 2008 · Dassault/Sud FAN JET Falcon 20 · N165TW

Jamestown, NY

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
December 21, 2008
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Jamestown, NY
Aircraft
Dassault/Sud FAN JET Falcon 20
Tail Number
N165TW
Operator
Ameristar Jet Charter
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ERA09LA282

The co-pilot was performing a nighttime approach and landing to runway 25. No runway condition reports were received by the flight crew while airborne, and a NOTAM was in effect, stating, “thin loose snow over patchy thin ice.” After landing, the co-pilot called out that the airplane was sliding and the wheel brakes were ineffective. The captain took the controls, activated the air brakes, and instructed the co-pilot to deploy the drag chute. The crew could not stop the airplane in the remaining runway distance and the airplane overran the runway by approximately 100 feet. After departing the runway end, the landing gear contacted a snow berm that was the result of earlier plowing. The captain turned the airplane around and taxied to the ramp. Subsequent inspection of the airplane revealed a fractured nose gear strut and buckling of the fuselage. The spring-loaded drag chute extractor cap activated, but the parachute remained in its tail cone container. Both flight crewmembers reported that the runway was icy at the time of the accident and braking action was “nil.” The airport manager reported that when the airplane landed, no airport staff were on duty and had not been for several hours. He also reported that when the airport staff left for the evening, the runway conditions were adequate. The runway had been plowed and sanded approximately 20 hours prior to the accident, sanded two more times during the day, and no measurable precipitation was recorded within that time frame. The reason that the drag chute failed to deploy was not determined.

NTSB Probable Cause

The inability to stop the airplane on the remaining runway because of icy runway conditions. A factor was the failure of the drag chute to properly deploy.

Full Narrative

On December 21, 2008, about 0100 eastern standard time, a Dassault Falcon 20, N165TW, was substantially damaged following a runway excursion after landing on runway 25 at the Chautauqua County/Jamestown Airport (JHW), Jamestown, New York. The airplane was registered to Sierra America Corporation and operated by Ameristar Jet Charter, Inc. The airline transport-rated pilot and commercial-rated co-pilot were not injured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 cargo flight. The flight originated at Tulsa International Airport (TUL), Tulsa, Oklahoma at 2200 central standard time. The Director of Operations for Ameristar Jet Charter reported that during the landing roll at JHW, the airplane overran the runway and came to a stop approximately 100 feet into the runway overrun. During the excursion, the nose gear struck a snow berm at the end of the runway. The crew taxied the airplane to the ramp, where damage to the nose landing gear strut was discovered. Subsequent examination of the airplane by Dassault engineering personnel revealed wrinkling of the fuselage skin and a 0.5-inch separation in the nose gear bin assembly. The fuselage was buckled at frames 7 and 8 and the adjacent cargo door latch could not be closed due to fuselage deformation. The operator reported that a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) was issued by JHW for runway 7/25, reporting thin loose snow over patchy thin ice. The NOTAM was in effect at the time of the accident. The captain provided a written statement and was interviewed by the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC). He reported that the co-pilot was flying the approach and landing at JHW. He briefed the co-pilot to land on speed and no longer than the 1,000 foot runway distance marker. The runway appeared normal for the time of year, and the runway surface was visible and not snow-covered. No braking action reports were available to the crew while airborne. The touchdown occurred near the reference speed of 122 knots, about 500 feet down the runway. After touchdown, the co-pilot called out, “I have no brakes, we are sliding, we are sliding.” The captain took control of the airplane, activated the air brakes, and instructed the co-pilot to activate the drag chute. He estimated that the airspeed was “no less than 100 knots” when the drag chute was activated. The airplane continued down the runway and the captain realized the airplane would not stop in the remaining runway distance. He stated that the excursion was not violent, and the nose gear crossed over a snow berm at the end of the runway. He stated that crossing the berm was like “…hitting a bump.” He turned the airplane around and taxied across the berm to the ramp. He described the runway conditions at the time of the accident as “a solid sheet of ice” and braking action was “nil.” He stated that the runway was difficult to stand on. He contacted company operations personnel and instructed them to divert another company aircraft destined for JHW. The co-pilot provided a written statement and was interviewed by the NTSB IIC. He confirmed the account of the captain, adding that the runway was a “sheet of ice.” He reported that the drag chute did not deploy as expected; it was “barely hanging out” of its container. The airplane drag chute was inspected by the operator’s maintenance staff following the accident. The spring-activated extractor cap was found activated and hanging below the tail cone, still attached to the deployment lanyard. The parachute did not deploy and remained 90 percent inside its tail cone container. Further examination did not reveal any anomalies with the parachute or its packing. Maintenance records indicate that the last time the drag chute system was serviced or inspected was during a “2A” inspection on September 6, 2008. Records also indicate that the system was serviced or inspected during a “Z” inspection on August 15, 2007 and during a “C” inspection on August 2, 2005. A review of the Dassault Aviation operating limitations for the Falcon 20 revealed no published minimum speed for drag chute deployment. Documentation provided by Dassault states that the drag chute should be deployed as soon as possible after landing. The JHW airport manager was interviewed after the accident. He reported that N165TW arrived several hours after the airport staff had left for the evening. Prior to the accident, approximately 0400 on December 20, the airport crew arrived and found the runway covered with ice and snow, approximately 0.125 inches deep. Runway friction readings of 23/25/23 MU were observed. For runway friction measuring, the airport utilized a pickup truck with a cab-mounted Tapley decelerometer. The runway was then plowed and sanded over its full length. The airport does not use chemicals to deice the runway. After sanding, a runway friction test was performed and MU readings of 32/26/30 were observed. The airport manager reported that this was the only time on December 20 that the runway was plowed, and it was the last friction test performed that day. On December 20th, sand was also applied to the runway at 1230 and 1430. After the accident, airport staff found the runway “slick, but not ice-covered.” A review of pilot reports (PIREPS) received at JHW on December 20th revealed the following: a private jet pilot reported “fair” braking action at 0615, a Beech 1900 pilot reported “good” braking action at 0635, a Cessna 208 pilot reported “fair to good” braking action at 0915, and a Beech 1900 pilot reported “fair to good” braking action at 1330. Three flights landed at 0920, 1230, and 1335 and their crews did not make a report. The Aeronautical Information Manual addresses runway friction readings. The Greek letter MU is used to designate a friction value representing runway surface conditions. For frozen contaminants on runway surfaces, a MU value of 40 or less is the level when aircraft braking performance starts to deteriorate and directional control begins to be less responsive. No correlation has been established between MU values and the descriptive terms “good,” “fair,” “poor,” and “nil.” The 0055 weather observation for JHW included the following: overcast ceiling at 1,300 feet, surface winds calm, 10 statute miles visibility, temperature 18 degrees Fahrenheit (F), dew point 12 degrees F, and an altimeter setting of 29.68 inches of mercury. A review of hourly weather observations for JHW revealed that no precipitation was recorded at the airport from 0500 on December 20 through 0100 on December 21. From 0100 on December 21 through 0700 on December 21, 0.01 inches of precipitation was recorded at the airport.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time01:00 EST
Nearest AirportChautauqua County/Jamestown (0nm)
Runway25
Runway Length5299 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Flight Plan ActivatedYes
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftDassault/Sud FAN JET Falcon 20
Tail NumberN165TW
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorAmeristar Jet Charter
Operating RulePart 135
Engines2
Engine TypeTurbofan
Engine DetailsGeneral Electric · CF700-2D2 · Turbofan · 4500
Seats3

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 24 · First Class · None
Crew 2Age 33 · First Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightNight
WindCalm
Visibility10 sm
CeilingOvercast 1300 ft
Temperature / Dew Point64 F / 54
Altimeter29.68 inHg
Observation Time05:55
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data