Learjet 31A N31PV

Summary

On 7 May 1997 at about 15:00 local time, a Learjet 31A registered N31PV was involved in an accident near Atlantic Ocean. 3 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

7 May 1997 at 15:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Atlantic Ocean

Nearest airport

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood (FLL)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Learjet 31A

Registration

N31PV

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Fort Lauderdale → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL97LA080

Nobody was injured.

the pilot-in-command's failure to maintain airspeed within the design structural limits of the airplane.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

While over the Atlantic Ocean at 23,000 feet, the flight received a clearance to descend to 13,000 feet. The instructor pilot took control of the airplane to demonstrate an emergency descent. While descending, the first officer student pilot believed the instructor pilot to be disoriented and assisted in the recovery. The instructor pilot stated he was disoriented and allowed the airplane to reach red line (maximum airspeed allowed). Upon landing, a mechanic noted that the refueling door was missing, and there was damage to the horizontal stabilizer.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.