Accidents
Ice a factor in Premier I landing accident
Hawker Beechcraft Premier I, Leesburg, Va., Feb.

Hawker Beechcraft Premier I, Leesburg, Va., Feb. 12, 2008–The probable cause of the accident was the airplane’s runway excursion during landing, following an encounter with ice, according to the Safety Board. The jet touched down after a normal approach near the threshold of the 5,500-foot-long runway at Leesburg Executive Airport at an airspeed of 100 knots. While the pilot initially reported braking effectiveness as “adequate,” it diminished as the jet approached the mid-field position of the runway until it was described as “near-nil” and insufficient to decelerate the aircraft, which was not equipped with thrust reversers.

In an attempt to gain traction in the adjoining grassy area, the pilot maneuvered the Premier off the left side of the runway, where it struck a drainage ditch causing substantial damage to the left wing and main landing gear.