Plane Crash List

Learjet LR-60 N602LJ

24 September 1992 · Hutchinson, Kansas, United States · No injuries

Summary

On 24 September 1992 at about 15:55 local time, a Learjet LR-60 registered N602LJ, operated by Learjet Inc., was involved in an accident near Hutchinson, Kansas, United States. 4 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

The record

Date
at 15:55
Classification
Accident
Location
Hutchinson, Kansas, United States
Nearest airport
Hutchinson (KHUT)
Coordinates
37.6504, -97.5695
Aircraft
Learjet LR-60
Registration
N602LJ
Category
Airplane
Engines
2
Operator
Learjet Inc.
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Unknown
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Route
Wichita → Unknown
Aircraft damage
Substantial
Weather
VMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
CHI92LA289

People

Nobody was injured.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
4 0 0 0 4

Probable cause

INADEQUATE FLIGHT TEST METHODS BY THE MANUFACTURER AND THE FAA WHICH DID NOT PERMIT SAFE OPERATING CLEARANCES.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE FLIGHT WAS ENGAGED IN A TEST FLIGHT THAT INVOLVED AN INTENTIONAL INDUCED AUTOPILOT MALFUNCTION AT 80 FEET ABOVE THE RUNWAY SURFACE. THE CREW IS REQUIRED TO DELAY RECOVERY FOR 2.0 SECONDS AND THEN RECOVER FROM THE MALFUNCTION. THE AIRCRAFT MADE A HARD LANDING DURING THE ATTEMPTED RECOVERY RESULTING IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRPLANE. THE MALFUNCTION INPUT WAS MADE BY AN AVIONICS ENGINEER IN THE AFT CABIN WHO DID NOT HAVE A READOUT OF RADAR ALTITUDE. THE COMPANY AND THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION HAVE MODIFIED THEIR FLIGHT TEST GUIDANCE FOR LOW ALTITUDE INTENTIONAL MALFUNCTIONS SINCE THIS ACCIDENT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

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All 170,864 records in United States