Learjet 55 N559RA accident near Jeffersonville, Indiana

Probable cause

The flight crew’s failure to verify the correct runway for landing, which resulted in a landing on a snow contaminated runway and resulting damage to the airplane. The illumination of the lights associated with the closed runway contributed to the accident.

NTSB analysis

Both pilots reported that, as they approached the airport, they saw runway lights and set up for a visual approach to that runway. They believed the runway they saw was runway 36, but it was in fact runway 32, which had been closed due to snow. A notice to airman had been published to that effect. In addition, the airport’s automated weather observing system recording was appended with the runway closure information. The pilots continued the approach and landed on runway 32. The airplane struck a snow berm at the edge of the intersection with runway 36, the landing gear broke from the airplane, and the airplane slid to a stop. The lower fuselage, wings and ventral strakes sustained substantial damage.

Runway 32 was closed due to a large amount of snow that was in the process of being cleared. About 4 inches of snow remained. The runway lights were on at the time of the accident to aid the snowplow operators in determining the location of the runway edge; however, there were no plows on runway 32 at the time of the accident. The lights for runway 36 may not have been visible due to the snow berms along the runway edge obstructing their view from the side.

Based on the available information, the flight crew inadvertently selected the wrong runway for landing and did not identify the error because they failed to compare the intended runway heading with the final approach course. Contributing to the accident was the fact that the runway 32 lights were left on.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN21LA136 for the full record.