NTSB Moving Faster Than The Speed Of Sound

Although runway excursions are the most frequent incident in business aviation, most don't meet the definition of an accident so the NTSB does not investigate. Since there are lessons to be learned and trends to be observed, at Advanced Aircrew Academy we track all business aviation runway excursions and look at ADS-B flight track data, NOTAMS, weather; listen to ATC audio; and, when able, interview the pilot(s). These observations don't raise to the level of an NTSB investigation, so when a runway excursion raises to the level of an accident, we keenly monitor for the publication of the preliminary report, docket, and ultimately the final report. It is not uncommon to wait more than a year for a final report.

When the NTSB published a report about a runway excursion in February 2023, we had to check, double-check, then triple-check to make sure this was a final NTSB report because it was published less than two months after the accident—not two years, but two months.

The accident was first reported by the FAA as Cirrus SF50 Vision Jet which had a "nose gear collapse after porpoising on landing and veered off runway into the grass" at Waukesha, Wisconsin (KUES).

How could the NTSB reach the conclusion that the probable cause was the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during landing so quickly? The published contributing factor of the pilot's inadequate preflight inspection removal of the angle of attack vane cover may provide a clue.

What a self-induced ride this 396-hour total time pilot had. During takeoff, he reported he heard a noise that sounded like "gravel hitting the gear," which continued after the landing gear was retracted. In a display of proper airmanship, the pilot decided to return to the departure airport for a precautionary landing.

On the downwind leg, the stall warning aural alert sounded and the stick shaker activated. That had to be a huge distraction to maintain control of an aircraft the pilot had 51 hours of experience in. Thankfully, the accident happened on the ground without injury to the pilot or passenger. It could have easily been a loss of control inflight accident with loss of life.

This accident is a good reminder of the importance of a proper preflight paired with a final walk-around of the aircraft before you close the aircraft door and sit down in the cockpit.