Phenom 100 crashes into home in Gaithersburg, Md

[peekay4]

At least three people were killed when their plane crashed into a home in Gaithersburg, Maryland, and three residents of the home are unaccounted for, Montgomery County Fire Department spokesman Pete Piringer said.

Plane Crashes Into Home in Gaithersburg, Md.; At Least 3 Dead, 3 Unaccounted For | NBC4 Washington

Flight recorders have been recovered by the NTSB.

[peekay4]

NTSB now expects to hold a media briefing at 4:30 pm ET.

[peekay4]

Montgomery County Fire Department confirms six fatalities -- all three aboard the airplane, and three people on the ground.

[olasek]

The same pilot destroyed another airplane at the same airport 4 years ago. At that time it was a TBM700 and the reason was determined to be a botched go-around but no one was hurt.

[AviatorTB]

According to the Flying Magazine post, the accident occurred shortly before 1100 local time (Z-5).


KGAI 081655Z 03003KT 10SM OVC035 00/M06 A3057 RMK AO1
KGAI 081635Z 03003KT 10SM SCT020 OVC037 00/M05 A3058 RMK AO1
KGAI 081615Z 08003KT 10SM SCT023 BKN028 OVC032 M01/M07 A3060 RMK AO1
KGAI 081555Z 05005KT 10SM OVC032 M01/M08 A3060 RMK AO1
KGAI 081535Z 04006KT 10SM FEW021 OVC032 M01/M08 A3061 RMK AO1
KGAI 081515Z 05005KT 10SM FEW023 OVC030 M01/M08 A3061 RMK AO1
KGAI 081455Z 04005KT 10SM OVC028 M01/M09 A3062 RMK AO1 52003

[jientho]

Another stick/yoke pull?

It looks pretty clear from the data and the eyewitness account at the link above that this is sadly another yoke/stick-pull stall. Throttle-up and engines responding normally doesn't compensate for insistent pulling behind the curve. AF447 and that Buffalo, NY, regional are the others that come to my mind. Also Asiana.

[peekay4]

The Phenom 100 has an aggressive "stick pusher" (not just a stick shaker) as part of the stall protection system.

The pusher if activated would have automatically pushed the yoke forward with > 100 lbs of force.

Some interesting notes:

- Lowest recorded speed: approx. 88 kts
- At that point, "large excursions in pitch and in roll" were observed
- About 2 seconds later, the throttles were advanced, and engines responded
- Aircraft was in landing configuration (flaps extended, landing gear down)
- According to AWST, the Phenom 100 has a stall speed of 77 kts in landing config
- Pilot had ATPL & CFI ratings with 4,500 hrs

Latest NTSB briefing (20 mins):

You Tube

[jientho]

Another probably relevant piece of info, a 5.5 yo AD for this a/c related to flaps, icing, stick pusher, and false alarms.

Embraer to retrofit Phenom flap software from April - 3/11/2009 - Flight Global

Given that this pilot "loved his planes", it seems likely he was familiar with the issue. Hopefully not in a manner to where he would disable, override, or ignore critical systems or warnings... Investigation will tell.

[ironbutt57]

read the report on his previous accident, it would appear there were some speed/directional issues involved there as well..

[Samual]

yeah his previous accident hopefully sheds some light on what happened this time. Regardless pretty weird.

[Carbon Brakes 300]

Phenom 100, a single pilot airplane ?

I cant claim to have a lot of time on the Phenom, although typed, but I do remember the amount of heads down required to get the Garmin doing what it should...frankly, I left the course pretty convinced it is not a single pilot aircraft perhaps nothing to do with this accident, but required heads down time and lack of basic flying scan skills could have been the root of it.
Just my opinion.