Embraer Executive Aircraft INC EMB-505 accident near Hawthorne, California, December 28, 2022
On December 28, 2022 at about 2:29 am local time, a 2013 Embraer Executive Aircraft INC EMB-505, registered N16DF, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Hawthorne, California (Jack Northrop Fld/Hawthorne Mu airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A runway overrun due to the pilot’s failure to stop the airplane as a result of diminished braking action due to a water contaminated runway surface.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 28, 2022 · about 2:29 am local time · cases in 2022
- Place
- Hawthorne, California · Jack Northrop Fld/Hawthorne Mu · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Embraer Executive Aircraft INC EMB-505, built 2013
- Registration
- N16DF · no longer on the register · serial 50500167
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, prior to landing, she obtained weather conditions at the airport, which included calm wind and light rain. After calculating the landing performance, she determined that the destination airport was adequate, and continued the approach to landing. Upon touchdown, she realized that the runway was wetter than anticipated, and applied maximum braking efforts, which included the application of the emergency brake system. Despite the use of maximum braking, the airplane “failed to decelerate at the normal rate.” The pilot initiated a right turn to decelerate, however, the airplane exited the departure end of the runway and impacted approach lighting and the airport perimeter fence, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation station located on the airport reported that, about 9 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 090° at 3 knots, 7 statute miles visibility and light rain.
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
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Surface speed/braking › Attain/maintain not possible
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Ceiling/visibility/precip › Rain › Effect on equipment
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface › Wet surface › Effect on equipment
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,315 hours in all; 26 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 3,599 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 31, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,396.4 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, August 22, 2022; 60.6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 18,387 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Pratt & Whitney Canada PW535E (gtfn); 23,964 hours total
- Engine 2: Pratt & Whitney Canada PW535E (gtfn); 23,964 hours total
- Operator: Solairus Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: JAC Jackson WY
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 25, 4,884 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 090° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,900 ft; a few clouds at 700 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observation at 6:20 pm from KHHR, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): SPECI KHHR 280220Z 09003KT 7SM -RA FEW007 SCT013 OVC029 16/13 A2993 RMK AO2 RAB19 P0001 T01560133=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 5 |
Photographs from the investigation 4 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photo 1 – View of the airplane at the accident site.
Photo 2 - View of the airplane at the accident site.
Photo 3 - View of the airplane at the accident site.
Photo 4 - View of the departure end of runway 25.The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on April 20, 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Conversation - Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photo Array | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N16DF: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada PW535E 412 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada PW535E 412 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Jack Northrop Fld/Hawthorne Municipal · nearest airport
- Jackson Hole Airport · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in California 9,080 since 1982 · 1,096 in the last ten years
- California 28,279 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/WPR23LA081.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.