Incident Overview

Description
A Cessna 550 Citation II, N26496, received substantial damage when it struck an arresting cable on takeoff roll at Comayagua-Palmerola Air Base (XPL), Honduras. The pilot reported that, when he saw the arresting gear, the airplane was traveling at a speed over 70 knots and his “closure rate on the cable was too high to abort and not still run over” the cable. In his written report the pilot reported that he forgot that the cable was there. After takeoff, the cabin would not pressurize and the airplane returned to Sato Cano for landing. Inspection revealed that the UHF antenna had been struck and ruptured the pressure vessel. The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance with the arresting gear, resulting in the aircraft striking an arresting cable. The pilot’s complacency was a factor.
Primary Cause
Pilot complacency and failure to maintain clearance with the arresting gear.Pilot complacency and failure to maintain clearance with the arresting gear.Share on: