BAE Systems BAE125 N469RJ

Summary

On 3 December 2019 at about 13:33 local time, a BAE Systems BAE125 registered N469RJ, operated by Business Jet Managers Inc, was involved in an accident near Detroit, Michigan, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

3 December 2019 at 13:33

Classification

Accident

Location

Detroit, Michigan, United States

Nearest airport

Coleman A Young Muni (DET)

Coordinates

42.4094, -83.0103

Aircraft

BAE Systems BAE125

Registration

N469RJ

Category

Airplane

Year built

1986

Engines

2

Operator

Business Jet Managers Inc

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Detroit → Detroit

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN20LA028

Nobody was injured.

The pilots’ failure to increase approach speed as recommended for flight in icing conditions, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and subsequent impact with terrain. Contributing to the accident was the failure of the stall warning system to advise the crew of the approaching stall.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airline transport pilot rated crew was conducting an instrument landing system (ILS) approach. The air traffic controller at the departure airport advised them of the icing conditions present so the crew turned on the anti-ice system. The airplane did not have any airspeed oscillations during the approach. The flying pilot reported that the right wing "dropped" and a stall occurred as they approached the runway. He stated, “Although flight crew selected the correct Vref speed for the aircraft weight, they failed to add 10 kts for the ‘operation in icing conditions’ statement, per the aircraft checklist.” The stick shaker should have alerted the crew of the approaching stall. However, the flying pilot said that there was no shaker activation during the flight. The non-flying pilot felt the shaker was activated after the airplane came to rest. The reason for the lack of a stick shaker warning was not determined during the investigation. However, the cockpit voice recording confirmed the pilots’ statements. The accident is consistent with the airplane stalling on approach due to ice buildup, and the accident likely would not have occurred had the pilot’s flown the higher approach speed recommended for flight in icing conditions.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.