L-39 ACCIDENT

Air Classics, Jun 2005

On 7 March, Aero Vodochody L-39C N8098T was substantially damaged during a runway over-run while landing an Runway 14 at the Shreveport Downtown Airport, Louisiana. The pilot and passenger received minor injuries. The pilot stated that during the instrument approach, at an airspeed of 140-kts, the plane experienced a downdraft causing the L-39 to sink to 500-ft mean sea level. The pilot corrected the altitude and leveled off at 700-ft msl. After descending to minimum descent altitude of 600-ft msl, the pilot was able to recognize the runway and elected to land. At this time the pilot noted light rain showers in the area.

The pilot added that after applying full flaps and verifying the landing gear was down and locked, the pilot performed a "normal landing in the normal touchdown area of Runway 14." The pilot further stated that during the landing roll, braking action was "poor" and "the runway seemed wavy." the pilot said that he applied full brakes using the hand brake and moved the control stick forward "to depress the squat switch on the nose wheel for braking." Braking action was poor.

The pilot added that due to the 10-sec spool-up time from idle power to full power, a go-around was not an option. He elected to pull the emergency brake handle to assist in stopping the jet. Subsequently, the plane exited the departure end of Runway 14, rolled down a shallow hill, and came to rest in a nose-low attitude near an airport service road. The nose structure was crushed downwards and aft. The nose wheel landing gear was also collapsed and pushed aft.