Air America Flight Services Dassault Falcon 50 plane crash
Greenville, South Carolina, USA
Updated on
The Dassault Falcon 50 business jet operated by Air American Flight Services, Inc., was substantially damaged when it overran the end of the runway during its landing at Greenville Downtown Airport, Greenville, South Carolina, USA. The plane took off from Clearwater, Florida, USA, for a passenger flight to Greenville. 2 passengers and 2 crewmembers were onboard. The two crewmembers were fatally injured in the accident, and the two passengers received serious injuries.
Air traffic control personnel reported that the airplane touched down normally at a normal touchdown point on runway. They saw the airplane's sole thrust reverser on the center (No. 2) engine deploy. The controllers then watched as the airplane did not decelerate as it continued down the runway. An airport security video captured the airplane's touchdown and confirmed that the No. 2 thrust reverser and the airbrakes were deployed. The video also showed the airplane as it continued down to the end of the runway and then went over an embankment.
First responders reported that all three engines were operating at full power for at least 20 minutes after the accident with, one engine running until about 40 minutes after the accident.
Initial examination of the accident site, runway, and tire track evidence showed that the airplane departed the left edge of runway 19 near the departure end, traveled across the flat grassy area at the end of the runway, continued down a 50-foot embankment, and came to rest on the airport perimeter road about 425 feet from the runway.
There was no fire. Fuel was observed leaking from the wings at the accident site.
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The crew was not appropriately qualified to fly this aircraft: the left seat pilot held an ATP certificate with a type rating for the Falcon 50 with a limitation for second-in-command only. The right seat pilot held a private pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single and multiengine land. He did not hold an instrument rating (the plane performed the flight in IFR).
The weather conditions were good at the time of the accident, with good visibility and low wind.