Ravalli County Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Hamilton, Montana 59840
Monday, July 10, 2006 10:45 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that while he was executing a visual flight rules extended straight-in approach to a full-stop landing, he encountered 10 knot wind fluctuations. He therefore decided to increase his approach speed by 10 knots. In addition to the increased airspeed, the pilot flew a flatter than normal approach descent angle. Due to the increased airspeed and the flatter approach, the airplane floated longer than normal after the initiation of the landing flare. Instead of executing a go-around after it became obvious that the airplane would not settle to the runway near the normal touchdown point, the pilot elected to continue the landing sequence. Once the airplane touched down, the pilot was unable to get it stopped in the remaining runway, and it departed the end of the runway and experienced a nose gear collapse after encountering rough/uneven, swampy terrain. The expected landing distance for the airplane was calculated based upon the Vref plus ten airspeed of 108 knots, a landing gross weight of 11,000 pounds, and the reported ambient weather conditions. According to those extrapolated calculations, the landing distance would have been expected to be about 3,100 feet. This distance does not include the use of thrust reversers, as the Model 560 landing performance charts for dry hard surface runways do not take into consideration use of the thrust reversers. The performance section of the Model 560 FAA-Approved flight manual stated that the landing is to be proceeded by, "...a steady three degree angle approach down to the 50-foot height point with airspeed at Vref in the landing configuration." According to Cessna Aircraft, maintaining a flatter approach, or an airspeed above designated Vref, will extend the landing distance beyond what is published in the performance tables. Review of the archived aviation surface weather observations (METAR) for Ravalli County Airport revealed that the winds measured at 1053, eight minutes after the accident, were from 150 degrees at five knots. The wind observations recorded at 0953 indicated calm winds, and the recorded winds at 0853 were 220 degrees at four knots.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to attain the proper touchdown point and to execute a go-around, which lead to an overrun of the runway surface. Contributing to the accident was his failure to maintain the correct landing approach speed (Vref), his failure to maintain the correct glide path, and the swampy and rough/uneven terrain the airplane encountered after departing the end of the runway.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/10/2006
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1045
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City Hamilton
Event State MONTANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 59840
Event Date Year 2006
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 461516N
Event Location Longitude 1140731W
Event Location Airport Ravalli County
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 6S5
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0.5
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 3642
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 17
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 5
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.86
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 23061
NTSB Notification Source Airport Manager
NTSB Notification Date Jul 10 2006 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Feb 28 2008 3:59PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Helena FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N50CV
NTSB Number SEA06LA138
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model Citation 560
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 560-0293
Certified Max Gross Weight 16300
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 9
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Continuous Airworthiness
Date of Last Inspection Jun 1 2006 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 9392
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name River City Flying Service, LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Portland
Aircraft Owner State OR
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 97225
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Executive/Corporate
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code KVIS
Departure City Visalia
Departure State CA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 815
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code 6S5
Destination City Hamilton
Destination State MT
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing - roll
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 6 2008 9:03AM
User who most recently changed record STAM
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 34
Runway Length 4200
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --