Cessna 525A accident near Nashville, Tennessee, June 15, 2011
On June 15, 2011 at about 10:25 pm local time, a Cessna 525A, registered N129SG, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Nashville, Tennessee (John C. Tune airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot-in-command's failure to execute a go-around when the airplane was high and fast on the final approach.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 15, 2011 · about 10:25 pm local time
- Place
- Nashville, Tennessee · John C. Tune · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 525A · all 525As on the register
- Registration
- N129SG · registry record · serial 525A0129
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot-in-command (PIC) was in the left cockpit seat, and a passenger, who possessed a student pilot certificate, was in the right cockpit seat. The PIC was not a certificated flight instructor; however, the student pilot was at the controls for a majority of the flight. During the descent and initial approach, the student pilot allowed the airplane to become high and fast, and the PIC subsequently took over the controls and continued the approach. During the final approach, the ground proximity warning system announced "sink rate" eight times. After touchdown, the antiskid system activated; however, there was insufficient runway remaining on which to stop the airplane. The PIC reported that he neglected to consider the wet runway condition. The airplane overran the runway and struck the instrument landing system antennas before coming to a stop. The PIC reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures during the flight. As a result of the accident, the operator modified its operational procedures to restrict unqualified personnel from the cockpit during flight and initiated a formal risk assessment program.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Landing area overshoot during landing defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Collision during takeoff/land during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Incorrect use/operation
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 13,488 hours in all; 670 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 28 in the last 30 days; 11,099 as pilot in command; 2,998 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 31, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,224 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, December 7, 2010; 116 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 12,375 lb
- Seats: 9
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Williams FJ 44 SERIES (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Williams FJ 44 SERIES (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: Deer Horn Aviation LTD CO
The flight
- Departed from: ATS Artesia NM at 8:06 pm
- Destination: JWN Nashville TN
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 20, 5,500 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 11,000 ft; scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.78 inHg
- Observation at 10:11 pm from BNA, 11 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.