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).
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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 October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 28, 2022 · about 2:29 am local time
- Place
- Hawthorne, California · Jack Northrop Fld/Hawthorne Mu · 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 5 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number WPR23LA081.