Learjet 35A N1AH

Summary

On 16 May 1997 at about 19:14 local time, a Learjet 35A registered N1AH, operated by Professional Flight Crew Svcs, was involved in an accident near Great Falls, Montana, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

16 May 1997 at 19:14

Classification

Accident

Location

Great Falls, Montana, United States

Nearest airport

Great Falls Intl (GTF)

Coordinates

47.5097, -111.2705

Aircraft

Learjet 35A

Registration

N1AH

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Professional Flight Crew Svcs

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Positioning

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Dallas

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA97LA109

2 people had minor injuries.

the captain's inadequate preflight planning/preparation, and the subsequent improper response to a simulated loss of engine power, resulting in liftoff at an airspeed below that for which sustained flight was possible.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The captain reported: 'Shortly after V1...there was a loss of power to the left engine....' (FAR Part 1 defines V1 as takeoff decision speed.) However, the first officer, who was the pilot flying, stated the captain retarded power on the left engine as a training exercise. The first officer stated there was no preflight discussion of emergency procedure practice. The airplane became airborne about 3,500 feet down the runway; the crew subsequently lost control of the aircraft, and it crashed to the left of the runway, and a fire erupted. The crew escaped with minor injuries. A teardown of the left engine was performed under FAA supervision at the engine manufacturer's facilities; the engine manufacturer reported that damage found during the teardown 'was indicative of engine rotation and operation at the time of impact....' Both airspeed indicator bugs were found set 9 to 11 knots below the V1 speed on the takeoff and landing data (TOLD) card. No evidence of an aircraft or engine malfunction, to include inflight fire, was found at the accident site.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.