Nashville International Airpor Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Nashville, Tennessee 37209
Tuesady, December 26, 2006 8:15 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airline transport pilot was on an instrument flight rules (IFR) cross-country passenger flight under Title 14, CFR Part 135, when the accident occurred. According to the first officer, while on final approach, the "AUG/AIL" (aileron augmentation) light illuminated, indicating a system malfunction. He reset the system per the flight manual (FM), and the light went out. The approach was continued, but during landing, he reported that the AUG/AIL lamp illuminated again, and that the right wing dropped, striking the ground. The first officer said the captain, who was on the controls, had full left aileron deflection trying to compensate, without success. The airplane landed on runway 2C (center) with a magnetic runway heading of 020 degrees. The airport weather observation reported the wind as 310 degrees at 12 knots, with gusts to 17 knots. The first officer reported the wind as 310 degrees at 12 knots, with gusts to 19 knots. According to the FM, Wind Components Chart, an angle of 70 degrees between the prevailing wind direction and the runway heading, would produce crosswind components of 11 knots steady, and 16 knots during gusts for the reported airport observation. The corresponding wind components for the wind as reported by the first officer, would be 11 knots steady, with 18 knots during gusts. According to the FM, the maximum demonstrated crosswind component, when the wind is 90 degrees to the runway heading, is 24.7 knots. The FAA approved Master Minimum Equipment List limits the airplane to 20 knots maximum crosswind component with the AUG/AIL system inoperative. The AUG/AUL system is computer controlled, and automatically activates when the wing flaps are set below 25 degrees, using a combination of aileron and corresponding spoilers to enhance the airplane's roll rate at low airspeeds. The airplane received structural damage to the right wing. An examination of the aileron augmentation system revealed an anomaly in the computer that controls the AUG/AIL system. When the computer was replaced, the system functioned normally.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate compensation for gusty crosswind conditions during landing, which resulted in a loss of control and collision with the runway. Factors contributing to the accident were the failure of the aileron augmentation (spoiler) flight control system, diminished directional (roll) control, and crosswind gusts.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/26/2006
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 815
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City Nashville
Event State TENNESSEE
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 37209
Event Date Year 2006
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 360717N
Event Location Longitude 0864025W
Event Location Airport Nashville International Airpor
Event Location Nearest Airport ID BNA
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 599
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 753 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID KBNA
Elevation of weather observation facility 599
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 1500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 3
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 310
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 17
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
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 7
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 22873
NTSB Notification Source NTSB MARA
NTSB Notification Date Dec 26 2006 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jan 30 2008 4:08PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Nashville

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N136WE
NTSB Number ANC07LA009
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Gates Learjet
Aircraft Model 35A
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 201
Certified Max Gross Weight 18000
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 10
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection AAIP
Date of Last Inspection Oct 1 2006 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 9680
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Secure Air Charter LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Nashville
Aircraft Owner State TN
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 37209
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 VQ8A
Owner has at least one certificate --
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 Non-scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger Only
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) --
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code RDU
Departure City Raleigh-Durham
Departure State NC
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 853
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code KBNA
Destination City Nashville
Destination State TN
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing - flare/touchdown
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 26 2007 1:14PM
User who most recently changed record STAM
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 2C
Runway Length 8000
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --