"The Pilot Landed Long And Failed To Deploy The Thrust Reversers, Which Resulted In A Runway Overrun And Impact With Terrain"

Location: North Las Vegas, Nevada   Date & Time: November 14, 2021, 13:15
Local Registration: N771DX   Aircraft: IAI 1125 Westwind Astra
Aircraft Damage: Substantial  Defining Event: Landing area overshoot
Injuries: None  Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

The Pilot of a Westwind Astra got to re-learn exactly why the aircraft requires 2, after his adventurous runway excursion damaged the gear and wings.

The NTSB report was published, describing the events of a November 14, 2021 incident involving an Israeli Aircraft Industries that ultimately snapped off its front landing gear and impacted a culvert off the end of the runway. The root of the issue was that "the pilot landed long and failed to deploy the thrust reversers, which resulted in a runway overrun and impact with terrain". "Contributing to the accident," the report continues, "was the pilot's decision to operate the airplane as a single pilot instead of the required minimum crew of two pilots."

The pilot had said that the gear indicator light had been intermittently active while in the traffic pattern upon taking off from North Las Vegas Airport. Coming around for a landing, the pilot aborted the first attempt for a second try. The Astra touched down very long, with about 2,000 feet of runway remaining.

It skidded about 965 feet into the runway safety area without ever engaging its thrust reversers to assist in its desperately needed deceleration. It was stopped by a concrete culvert on the field, which sheared off the nose gear and main landing gear, causing additional damage to the wings.

The Astra's owner reported there was a potential buyer for the aircraft, and he provided names of 2 pilots who were appropriately type rated in the Westwind Astra. The accident flight only had one of those two pilots on hand for the pre-buy inspection, with the right seat being occupied by a non-rated passenger along for the ride. The NTSB reiterated the fact that the type is not approved for single-pilot operations.

FMI: www.data.ntsb.gov