Gates Learjet 35 N69PS

Summary

On 13 July 1994 at about 19:05 local time, a Gates Learjet 35 registered N69PS was involved in an accident near Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States. 10 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.

Date

13 July 1994 at 19:05

Classification

Accident

Location

Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States

Nearest airport

Atlantic City Intl (ACY)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Gates Learjet 35

Registration

N69PS

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Newark

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC94FA123

Nobody was injured.

UNDER-INFLATION OF THE TIRES, DUE TO IMPROPER MAINTENANCE, WHICH RESULTED IN OVERHEATING AND SUBSEQUENT TIRE FAILURE; THE INCORRECT CHECKLIST THAT WAS PROVIDED TO THE AIRCREW; AND FAILURE OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND TO DEPLOY THE DRAG CHUTE, WHEN THE THRUST REVERSERS DID NOT OPERATE.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT (PIC) SAID THAT DURING TAKEOFF, THE AIRPLANE 'PULLED' LEFT BEFORE REACHING V1 (TAKEOFF DECISION SPEED) & HE HAD DIFFICULTY MAINTAINING DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. HE INITIATED AN ABORT, BUT COULD NOT STOP ON THE REMAINING RUNWAY. THE PLANE CROSSED A CONCRETE SLAB THAT PREVIOUSLY SUPPORTED AN APPROACH LIGHT & THE MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED. THE PLANE STOPPED 446' FROM THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE OUTER LEFT TIRE HAD BLOWN DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, FOLLOWED BY THE LEFT INNER TIRE & BOTH RIGHT MAIN TIRES. PIC WAS UNABLE TO OBTAIN REVERSE THRUST. THE THRUST REVERSERS SHOULD HAVE BEEN (BUT WERE NOT) ARMED BEFORE TAKEOFF; THIS WAS NOT INCLUDED ON THE CHECKLIST THAT WAS PROVIDED TO THE FLIGHTCREW. ALSO, THE PIC DID NOT DEPLOY THE DRAG CHUTE. COMPANY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL INDICATED THE TIRES HAD BEEN UNDER-INFLATED WHEN THEY WERE BUILT UP & INSTALLED, SEVERAL DAYS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT & THAT THE TIRES HAD NOT BEEN CHECKED OR REINFLATED AFTER BUILDUP. GOODYEAR REPORTED THE TIRES COULD HAVE BEEN UP TO 50% UNDER-INFLATED. AN EXAM OF THE TIRES DISCLOSED EVIDENCE OF UNDER-INFLATION, & SUBSEQUENT OVERHEATING.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.