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June 14, 2018 · Dornier Gmbh Alpha JET No Series · N2165

Sacramento, CA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 14, 2018
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Sacramento, CA
Aircraft
Dornier Gmbh Alpha JET No Series (1982)
Tail Number
N2165
Operator
Blue City Holding
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
WPR18CA172

The pilot-under-instruction planned a visual, simulated no-flap approach and landing during an instructional flight in a twin-engine advanced jet trainer. Audio data provided by the Federal Aviation Administration indicated that the pilot requested a left closed traffic, simulated no-flap pattern and stated that he needed to go out about 4 miles upwind. By the time the air traffic tower controller responded, the pilot had already started the crosswind turn; 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 immediately to be sequenced in front of slower traffic on a 5-mile final approach. The controller stated that he would give the pilot the 4 miles he requested on the next pattern. The pilot accepted the turn clearance and reported to the controller that he was turning. 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. Subsequently, the airplane landed on its belly and sustained substantial damage to the bottom of the fuselage. A postlanding fire ensued. The filed company report 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 airspeed had to be quickly bled off. The higher approach speed, difficulty of maintaining airspeed, and 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 before lowering the landing gear but failed to extend the landing gear. The flight instructor failed to notice the omission, which resulted in a gear-up landing. The pilots reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot’s failure to extend the landing gear before landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s and the flight instructor’s failure to adequately monitor the workload.

Full Narrative

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

Event TypeAccident
Event Time11:38 PDT
Nearest AirportSacramento Mather (0nm)
Runway22L
Runway Length11301 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftDornier Gmbh Alpha JET No Series
Tail NumberN2165
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorBlue City Holding
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeTurbofan
Engine DetailsSnecma · Larzac 04-C6 · Turbofan · 2870 | Snecma · Larzac 04-C6 · Turbofan · 2870
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 49 · First Class · None
Crew 2Age 47 · First Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind230° @ 8 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point52
Altimeter29.76 inHg
Observation Time18:45
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data