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Crash of a Boeing 737-81Q at Jacksonville NAS

Date & Time: May 3, 2019 at 2142 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N732MA
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Guantánamo Bay - Jacksonville
MSN:
30618/830
YOM:
2001
Flight number:
LL293
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
136
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
7500
Captain / Total hours on type:
2204.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
7500
Copilot / Total hours on type:
18
Aircraft flight hours:
38928
Aircraft flight cycles:
15610
Circumstances:
According to both pilots, the takeoff, climb, and cruise portions of the flight were uneventful. The No. 1 (left) thrust reverser was not operational and deferred for the flight in accordance with the airplane’s minimum equipment list. The captain was the pilot flying for the accident flight, and the first officer was the pilot monitoring. The captain was also performing check airman duties for the first officer who was in the process of completing operating experience training. During the approach to Jacksonville Naval Air Station (NIP), the flight crew had two runway change discussions with air traffic controllers due to reported weather conditions (moderate to heavy precipitation) near the field; the pilots ultimately executed the area navigation GPS approach to runway 10, which was ungrooved and had a displaced threshold 997 ft from the threshold, leaving an available landing distance of 8,006 ft. As the airplane descended through 1,390 ft mean sea level (msl), the pilots configured it for landing with the flaps set at 30º and the landing gear extended; however, the speedbrake handle was not placed in the armed position as specified in the Landing checklist. At an altitude of about 1,100 ft msl and 2.8 nm from the runway, the airplane was slightly above the glidepath, and its airspeed was on target. Over the next minute, the indicated airspeed increased to 170 knots (17 knots above the target approach speed), and groundspeed reached 180 knots, including an estimated 7-knot tailwind. At an altitude of about 680 ft msl and 1.6 nm from the threshold, the airplane deviated further above the 3° glidepath such that the precision approach path indicator (PAPI) lights would have appeared to the flight crew as four white lights and would retain that appearance throughout the rest of the approach. Eight seconds before touchdown, multiple enhanced ground proximity warning system alerts announced “sink rate” as the airplane’s descent rate peaked at 1,580 fpm. The airplane crossed the displaced threshold 120 ft above the runway (the PAPI glidepath crosses the displaced threshold about 54 ft above the runway) and 17 knots above the target approach speed, with a groundspeed of 180 knots and a rate of descent about 1,450 ft per minute (fpm). The airplane touched down about 1,580 ft beyond the displaced threshold, which was 80 ft beyond the designated touchdown zone as specified in the operator’s standard operating procedures (SOP). After touchdown, the captain deployed the No. 2 engine thrust reverser and began braking; he later reported, however, that he did not feel the aircraft decelerate and increased the brake pressure. The speedbrakes deployed about 4 seconds after touchdown, most likely triggered by the movement of the right throttle into the idle reverse thrust detent after main gear tire spinup. The automatic deployment of the speedbrakes was likely delayed by about 3 seconds compared to the automatic deployment that could have been obtained by arming the speedbrakes before landing. The airplane crossed the end of the runway about 55 ft right of the centerline and impacted a seawall 90 ft to the right of the centerline, 9,170 ft beyond the displaced threshold, and 1,164 ft beyond the departure end of runway 10. After the airplane came to rest in St. Johns River, the flight crew began an emergency evacuation.
Probable cause:
An extreme loss of braking friction due to heavy rain and the water depth on the ungrooved runway, which resulted in viscous hydroplaning. Contributing to the accident was the operator’s inadequate guidance for evaluating runway braking conditions and conducting en route landing distance assessments.
Contributing to the continuation of an unstabilized approach were
1) the captain’s plan continuation bias and increased workload due to the weather and performing check airman duties and
2) the first officer’s lack of experience.
Final Report:

Crash of a Convair C-131F Samaritan off Jacksonville NAS: 14 killed

Date & Time: Apr 30, 1983 at 1209 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
141010
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Jacksonville – Guantánamo
MSN:
293
YOM:
1955
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
14
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Jacksonville-Towers Field NAS, while climbing, the left engine failed. The crew declared an emergency and was cleared to return. On final approach, the airplane crashed in the St Johns River about 125 yards short off shore. The aircraft came to rest in shallow waters and was destroyed. A passenger was rescued while 14 other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine during initial climb or unknown reasons.

Crash of a Lockheed P-3A-45-LO Orion at Jacksonville NAS

Date & Time: Feb 23, 1978
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
151381
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Jacksonville - Jacksonville
MSN:
185-5094
YOM:
1964
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful patrol flight, the crew returned to Jacksonville-Towers Field and the airplane completed a belly landing before coming to rest. All five crew members escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Lockheed P-3A-40-LO Orion in Adak

Date & Time: Jun 3, 1969
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
151363
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Adak - Jacksonville
MSN:
185-5076
YOM:
1964
Location:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll at Adak Airport, the pilot-in-command pull the control column and started to rotate when the copilot reported a technical problem (smoke hatch blew open). The crew decided to abort the takeoff procedure and started an emergency braking manoeuvre. Few seconds later, the airplane veered off runway to the left and struck an obstacle, causing the right wing to be torn off. The airplane came to rest in flames down an embankment. All eight crew members escaped with minor injuries while the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Lockheed P-2H Neptune in Jacksonville Beach: 5 killed

Date & Time: Sep 27, 1967
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
147946
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Jacksonville - Jacksonville
MSN:
726-7196
YOM:
1958
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training flight out from Jacksonville-Towers Field NAS. While approaching the airbase from the east, the airplane collided with a USN Vought RF-86G Crusader registered 146864 and carrying one pilot. Following the collision, both aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in Jacksonville Beach, some 17 miles east of the airfield. All six occupants on both aircraft were killed.

Crash of a Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar in Jacksonville

Date & Time: Jul 16, 1966
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Jacksonville - Jacksonville
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
30
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Jacksonville-Towers Field NAS, while climbing, the crew informed ATC about the failure of the left engine and was cleared to return for an emergency landing. Smoke spread in the cockpit and the cabin so it was decided to abandon the aircraft. All 34 occupants bailed out and the airplane crashed in a field and was destroyed. There were no casualties.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine after takeoff.

Crash of a Martin PBM-5 Mariner in Jacksonville: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 10, 1948
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
84772
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Jacksonville - Jacksonville
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
On final approach to Jacksonville-Towers Field NAS, following a maritime patrol flight, the seaplane was too low, hit tree tops and crashed in a wooded area located few hundred yards short of runway. Two crew members were killed while five others were injured.

Crash of a Consolidated PB4Y-1 Liberator into the Atlantic Ocean: 14 killed

Date & Time: Mar 10, 1945
Operator:
Registration:
38765
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Jacksonville - Jacksonville
MSN:
4282
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
14
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
14
Circumstances:
The crew left Jacksonville-Towers Field NAS on a radar bombing exercise over the Bahamas. The radio operator informed ground about his position, about 60 miles west of Andros Town. This was the last message. SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found. It is believed the aircraft crashed into the sea between Andros Island and Florida.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5 Catalina in the St Johns River: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jan 28, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
08411
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Jacksonville - Jacksonville
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Crashed while landing in the St Johns River off the Jacksonville-Towers Field NAS. Five crew members were killed while five others were injured.

Crash of a Douglas R4D-5 off Jacksonville NAS: 17 killed

Date & Time: Nov 6, 1944 at 1200 LT
Operator:
Registration:
39063
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
9941
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
17
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft was approaching Jacksonville-Towers Field when it collided with a US Navy Goodyear FG-1A Corsair registered 13334. Following the collision, both aircraft crashed into the Saint Johns River, some 1,5 mile off the airfield. All 17 occupants on board the R4D-5 and the pilot of the Corsair were killed. The exact circumstances of the collision remains unknown.