Embraer EMB-500 accident near Jacksonville, Florida, December 16, 2020
On December 16, 2020 at about 7:19 pm local time, a 2009 Embraer EMB-500, registered N661EP, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Jacksonville, Florida (Jacksonville Executive Airport). It was an executive or corporate flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 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 flight crew’s failure to apply maximum braking immediately upon touchdown, which resulted in a runway excursion. Contributing to the accident were 1) the slightly excessive approach airspeed and 2) the flight crew’s decision to land on a wet runway during heavy rain with little margin between the unfactored landing distance required and the landing distance available.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 16, 2020 · about 7:19 pm local time
- Place
- Jacksonville, Florida · Jacksonville Executive Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Embraer EMB-500, built 2009 · all EMB-500s on the register
- Registration
- N661EP · no longer on the register · serial 50000123
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Executive or corporate flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight crew performed an instrument landing system approach in heavy rain. The published unfactored landing distance, which assumes ideal conditions for airplane speed, flightpath, and maximum braking immediately after touchdown, was about 330 ft shorter than the landing distance available. The factored landing distance, which 1) provides a safety margin and 2) allows for some variance from the ideal conditions, was about 1,360 ft longer than the landing distance available. During the approach, when the airplane was about 50 ft above the runway, the airspeed was about 4 knots higher than the target speed. After touchdown, the pilot(s) began braking within 1-2 seconds; however, the brake pedals did not reach their maximum braking position until about 8 seconds after touchdown. The brake pedals remained in the maximum position for 3 seconds before the parking/emergency brake was applied. The parking brake activation, which is not protected by the anti-skid system, resulted in the locking of both main landing gear wheelsets, reducing braking performance significantly. As a consequence of the wheels locking, the anti-skid system was deactivated, as designed. The airplane departed the end of the runway at a speed of about 60 knots and sustained substantial damage.
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
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Ceiling/visibility/precip › Rain › Use of related info
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Flight crew
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Incorrect use/operation
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,162 hours in all; 358 in this make and model; 38 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 1,055 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 9, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,125 hours in all; 18 in this make and model; 69 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 1,350 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 28, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,466 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 10,472 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Pratt & Whitney Canada PW617F-E (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Pratt & Whitney Canada PW617F-E (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: Executive Aviation Investors Inc
The flight
- Departed from: OPF Miami FL at 5:00 pm
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 32, 4,008 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 0.2 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 300 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observation at 2:18 pm from CRG, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KCRG 161918Z 25003KT 1/4SM +TSRA FG BKN003 BKN013 OVC037 12/11 A2993 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT S AND SW TSB06 PRESRR P0032 T01220106
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
13 documents, released by the NTSB on February 7, 2023. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot Statements | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Excerpts from the Quick Reference Handbook and Airplane Flight Manual | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Weather Reports and Records | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Investigative Photographs | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Diagram of Touchdown Location | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Summary of Brake Control Unit Test Results | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Flight Data Recorder - Specialista��s Factual Report | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 9 | Flight Data Recorder - Attachment 1 (FDR Tabular Data for Event Flight) | data file | Download |
| 10 | Cockpit Displays - Specialist's Factual Report | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 11 | Cockpit Voice Recorder - Specialista��s Factual Report | PDF, 8 pages | View Download |
| 12 | FAA Guidance on Landing Distance Calculations - Advisory Circular and Safo | PDF, 47 pages | View Download |
| 13 | Evidence Control Form | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.