Probable cause
The pilot's failure to obtain the proper touchdown point, and his excessive airspeed on approach.
NTSB analysis
During landing at its home airport, the airplane overran the runway and traveled down a 40-foot embankment before coming to rest against trees and sustaining substantial damage. According to the pilot, his speed on approach was a little fast but he thought it was manageable. Recorded data from the accident airplane revealed that 20 seconds before touchdown, when the pilot selected flaps 30 (landing flaps) the airspeed was approximately 27 knots above the maximum flap extension speed, and as the airplane touched down its airspeed was approximately 14 knots higher than specified for landing. The runway had a displaced threshold with 3,097 feet of runway length available. Skid marks from the accident airplane began approximately 868 feet beyond the displaced threshold, and continued for about 2,229 feet until they left the paved portion of the runway.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for NYC08FA261 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Jul 30, 2008
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- West Chester, Pennsylvania
- Nearest airport
- Brandywine Airport (OQN)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Eclipse Aviation Corporation EA500
- N-number
- N333MY
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.