Hendricks - Initial NTSB find is landing gear collapsed
The plane carrying Rick Hendrick and his wife Linda went nearly 1000 feet off the runway in Key West after the brakes failed during landing Monday night.
Here is the full text of the NTSB preliminary report:
On October 31, 2011, at about 1940 eastern daylight time, an Israel Aircraft Industries G150, N480JJ, went off the end of the runway on landing roll out. The nose landing gear collapsed and the airframe sustained structural damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules (IFR), flight plan was filed. The certificated airline transport rated pilot-in-command (PIC), airline transport rated co-pilot and one passenger reported minor injuries. One passenger sustained serious injuries. The flight departed from Witham Field Airport (SUA), Stuart, Florida at 1900. The flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight.
Examination of the crash site revealed the airplane departed the runway, crossed a 600-foot overrun, impacted the far side of a ditch, crossed a dirt road, cleared another ditch, and came to a stop 820 feet from the departure end of the runway.
The PIC stated the airplane touched down on the runway just past the 1,000 foot marker. He applied brakes and was going to activate the thrust reversers when he realized the brakes were not operating. He took his feet off the brakes and then reapplied brakes with no braking response. The co-pilot (CP) also applied brakes with no response. The PIC activated the thrust reversers and the airplane continued off the end of the runway colliding with a gravel berm.
The airplane was recovered from the runway and will undergo further investigation.
Hendrick suffered a broken clavicle and some broken ribs and was hospitalized in Key West. Currently, he is still in a medical facility in Charlotte after his return to Charlotte Tuesday afternoon.
Paul T. Glessner
I am a journalist/member of AARWBA and an affiliate with Motor Press Guild. Oh, by the way, I am an aerodynamicist with 24 years of aircraft design and flight test experience. I am a commercial pilot and have a website aeroseminars.com where I consult on vehicle aerodynamics.