NTSB links 2024 Citation runway overrun to excess weight and snow-contaminated wings
The findings highlight the combined consequences of aircraft loading, wing contamination and a rejected takeoff above decision speed.
The NTSB’s final report on a December 27, 2024 accident at Stevens Field in Pagosa Springs, Colorado, attributes a Cessna 560 runway excursion to inadequate preflight planning, inspection and decision-making. The aircraft attempted takeoff above its certified maximum weight with snow-contaminated wings, the board concluded.
The report says the aircraft did not rotate at the pilot’s calculated rotation speed. The pilot rejected takeoff at 120 knots, above the reported 96-knot decision speed, and the aircraft overran the runway. Both wings sustained substantial damage; none of the ten occupants was injured.
Investigators found no pre-accident flight-control or engine anomalies that would have prevented normal operation. The board said the overweight condition and wing contamination likely impaired takeoff performance, while the wet runway likely increased stopping distance.
Sources
- Final report CEN25LA074: Cessna 560, N753MB, Pagosa Springs — National Transportation Safety Board