Textron Aviation INC 525B accident near Caldwell, New Jersey, April 17, 2022
On April 17, 2022 at about 6:44 pm local time, a 2020 Textron Aviation INC 525B, registered N225SC, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Caldwell, New Jersey (Essex County Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The flight crew’s failure to attain a proper touchdown point during landing, which resulted in an overrun of the runway and collision with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 17, 2022 · about 6:44 pm local time
- Place
- Caldwell, New Jersey · Essex County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Textron Aviation INC 525B, built 2020
- Registration
- N225SC · registry record · serial 525B0611
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot-in-command (PIC) of the business jet described that at the conclusion of the flight the second-in-command (SIC) would conduct the landing. The SIC briefed the approach and the PIC agreed. The tower cleared the airplane for the visual approach to runway 22 (4,552-ft-long), noting winds were 300° at 18 knots, gusting to 26 knots. The PIC told the SIC that if he did not feel comfortable with the approach to landing, he should voice his concern, and initiate a go-around or transfer control of the airplane to the PIC. The PIC also briefed the procedure for taking control of the airplane should any unsafe conditions be observed. The PIC further described that after turning final, the landing checklist was completed, and the airplane was established on a stabilized approach. The SIC noted that he would fly at a slightly higher speed due to varying winds and gusts. Just before touchdown, the airplane “encountered a gust of wind that resulted in a ground effect float.” The airplane then touched down “at Ref speed” and on what the PIC perceived to be the first third of the runway. Due to the float and wind gust upon touchdown, the PIC called for the controls with the intent to initiate a go-around or to bring the airplane to a stop. The PIC then decided not to commence a go-around due to the limited amount of remaining runway available, low airspeed, and time to initiate takeoff power. The PIC realized that the airplane would not come to a stop on the remaining runway, even with maximum braking applied, and the airplane overran the runway and came to a stop in a brook beyond the departure end. The forward portion of the fuselage was substantially damaged during the runway excursion. The PIC reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Review of airport surveillance camera footage showed that the airplane touched down beyond the midpoint of the runway.
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)
- Landing area overshoot during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Flight crew
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,600 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 350 as pilot in command; 630 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 2,057 hours in all; 405 in this make and model; 101 in the last 90 days; 31 in the last 30 days; 1,469 as pilot in command; 516 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 393.5 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, March 3, 2022; 116.3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 14,070 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Williams FJ44-3A (turbofan); 393 hours total
- Engine 4: Williams FJ44-3A (turbofan); 393 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: STP St Paul MN at 4:30 pm
- Destination: CDW Caldwell NJ
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 22, 4,552 ft by 80 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 12 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observation at 1:17 pm from CDW
Weather report (METAR): KCDW 171753Z 29012G22KT 250V320 10SM BKN070 11/M08 A3014 RMK AO2 SLP214 T01061083 10106 20061 50006
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
8 documents, released by the NTSB on August 17, 2022. 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | POH Excepts on 525B CJ3 Landing Performance | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Landing Performance Calculations | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Investigative Photos | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Surveillance Video Summary | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Cdw Airport Surveillance Video 1 | WMV file | Download |
| 7 | Cdw Airport Surveillance Video 2 | WMV file | Download |
| 8 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 14 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N225SC the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.