NTSB Factual Report

On October 14, 2007, approximately 2350 central daylight time, a North American NA-265-65, N65BT, registered to and operated by Sabre 65 LLC and piloted by an airline transport certificated pilot, was substantially damaged when it went off the runway and struck a concrete pad and runway light while landing at New Century Aircenter (IXD), New Century, Kansas. Visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed at the time of the accident. The positioning flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91, and a visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan had been filed and activated. The captain and first officer, the only occupants on board the airplane, were not injured. The flight originated at Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport (MKC), Kansas City, Missouri, approximately 2330.

According to FAA inspectors who interviewed the flight crew, the airplane had just completed a corporate/executive flight from Las Vegas (LAS), Nevada, to MKC, and was being repositioned to IXD. The captain, who was flying the airplane, said he saw the runway lights through light rain when they were 10 miles away from the airport. He intercepted and flew the visual approach slope indicator (VASI) and landed on runway 18. The rain had increased in intensity, and the airplane touched down approximately the 1,000-foot mark. The wind was from the southeast and gusting. As the captain selected reverse thrust, the wind shifted from the west. Directional control was lost and the airplane hydroplaned off the left side of the runway, striking a concrete pad and runway light.

The captain's accident report was similar to the statement he gave to FAA. He said the approach was made in "light rain," and the touchdown was normal, but "wind and rain increased on rollout. After passing [a] building, wind intensif[ied], now out of the west 270 degrees or 280 degrees. Wind now like a shear. Aircraft started to weathervane and buffet out of control. Aircraft skidded off the left side of runway. Nose wheel str[uck] runway light base and sheared off. Aircraft came to rest about 25 feet off the left side of runway [and] about 5,000 feet down runway."

Winds recorded at IXD at 2130 and 0053 were 130 degrees at 9 knots and 150 degrees at 6 knots, respectively.

The nose landing gear was sheared off and the pressure vessel was compromised.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control. Contributing factors in this accident were the sudden wind shift, from calm to a gusty crosswind, the runway light, and the concrete pad.