Gates Learjet 24D N455JA
20 August 1985 · Gulkana, Alaska, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 20 August 1985 at about 10:05 local time, a Gates Learjet 24D registered N455JA, operated by ERA Helicopters, Inc., was involved in an accident near Gulkana, Alaska, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 died. The aircraft was destroyed. No probable cause statement is available for this record.
The record
- Date
- at 10:05
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Gulkana, Alaska, United States
- Nearest airport
- Gulkana (GKN)
- Coordinates
- 62.0999, -145.5293
- Aircraft
- Gates Learjet 24D
- Registration
- N455JA
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 2
- Operator
- ERA Helicopters, Inc.
- Operating rule
- Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Anchorage → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Night/Dark
- NTSB number
- ANC85MA157
People
3 people died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. No probable cause statement is present in the source data.
Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.
Read the full NTSB narrative
DURING A NIGHT ARRIVAL, THE FLT WAS ON AN INSTRUMENT APCH TO THE GULKANA ARPT WHEN RADIO CONTACT WITH THE ACFT WAS LOST. A SEARCH WAS INITIATED & THE WRECKAGE WAS FOUND 7.4 MI NORTH OF THE TERMINAL VOR ON THE 330 DEG RADIAL. THE INBOUND COURSE FOR THE VOR RWY 14 APCH WAS ON THE 315 DEG RADIAL. AN ON-SCENE EXAM REVEALED THE ACFT WAS TRACKING INBOUND WHEN IT COLLIDED WITH TREES, CRASHED & BURNED ABOUT 2.4 MI BEFORE REACHING THE FINAL APCH FIX. BOTH ENGS WERE OPERATING DURING IMPACT & BOTH HAD INJESTED CONSIDERABLE TREE MATERIAL. NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL FAILURE WAS EVIDENT. THE CAPTAIN & 1ST OFFICER WERE CURRENTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR FLYING BOTH THE LEARJET & DHC-7 ACFT. THIS WAS THE CAPTAIN'S 1ST DAY OF WORK AFTER RETURNING FROM A VACATION TRIP TO HAWAII (APRX 1-1/2 WEEKS). THE 1ST OFFICER HAD AN ADEQUATE PERIOD FOR CREW REST PRIOR TO REPORTING FOR WORK; HOWEVER, HE HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN WORKING A VARIED SCHEDULE. THE OPERATOR REPEATEDLY SHIFTED PLTS FROM 14 CFR 135 REST/DUTY REQUIREMENTS TO THOSE OF 14 CFR 121.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Gates Learjet 24 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 Oct 1985 | Gates Learjet 24D | Juneau, Alaska, United States | - | Fatal | 4 |
| 9 Oct 1984 | Gates Learjet 24B | San Francisco, California, United States | Clay Lacy AV Inc | Fatal | 3 |
| 10 Nov 1984 | Gates Learjet 24F | St. Thomas | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 26 Jan 1983 | Gates Learjet 24 | Cleveland, Ohio, United States | Epps Air Service, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 12 May 1982 | Gates Learjet 24B | Ft. Myer, Florida, United States | Delaware Victor Air Service | No injuries | - |
| 11 Dec 2001 | Gates Learjet 24D | Sierra Blanca, Texas, United States | Air Cargo Express Inc. | Fatal | 2 |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Jan 1985 | Bell 206BIII | Kenai, Alaska, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 25 Jan 1985 | Piper PA-12 | Wasilla, Alaska, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 27 Jan 1985 | Piper PA-31-350 | Savoonga, Alaska, United States | Bering Air | No injuries | - |
| 25 Jan 1985 | Piper PA-18 | Minto, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 14 Feb 1985 | Piper PA-31 | Port Heiden, Alaska, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 16 Feb 1985 | Cessna 152 | Elmendorf Afb, Alaska, United States | Elmendorf Aero Club | Minor injuries | - |