LAS VEGAS—Investigations have begun into a Dassault Falcon 50 runway overrun at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas that triggered a temporary ground stop and significant disruption to commercial flights.
The incident occurred at 10:52 a.m. local time on Oct. 18 when the crew of the Falcon 50, bound for Toronto Pearson International Airport, rejected the takeoff from the 9,770-ft.-long runway 1L/19R.
The aircraft, with 11 occupants, was making its second flight of the day, having arrived in Las Vegas from Seattle earlier that morning.
It remains unclear when and why the crew aborted the takeoff run, but according to data from Air Safety Network, the aircraft was still traveling at 119 kt. as it passed the runway exit to taxiway Mike, around 1,000 ft. from the threshold, before overrunning the end of the runway at around 70 kt.
In efforts to avoid runway lights and the airport perimeter fence, which is near a major surface street to the north of the runway, the crew maneuvered the aircraft sharply to the right, narrowly avoiding structures.
However, Las Vegas airport officials said the aircraft's left wingtip made contact with the fence.
Flight data indicates the aircraft was still traveling at 48 kt. when it passed the fence before looping back and coming to a stop near the overrun area for the adjacent runway 1R/19L.
There were no reported injuries to the crew or passengers.
Airport officials briefly closed the parallel runways 1/19 for inspections during the ground stop, which caused delays to inbound flights, many of them bringing attendees to the NBAA-BACE business aircraft show that begins in Las Vegas on Oct. 20.
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