Learjet 35 N721EC

Summary

On 29 February 2020 at about 17:35 local time, a Learjet 35 registered N721EC, operated by East Coast Jets Inc, was involved in an accident near Altoona, Pennsylvania, United States. 2 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

29 February 2020 at 17:35

Classification

Accident

Location

Altoona, Pennsylvania, United States

Nearest airport

Altoona-Blair County (AOO)

Coordinates

40.2964, -78.3200

Aircraft

Learjet 35

Registration

N721EC

Category

Airplane

Year built

1980

Engines

2

Operator

East Coast Jets Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Positioning

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Allentown → Altoona

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA20CA120

Nobody was injured.

The pilot flying's improper lateral bank control during a go-around in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in the left-wing tip tank striking the runway.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The flight crew reported that, after an instrument landing system approach and during the landing flare, the airplane encountered a strong wind gust that pushed the airplane toward the edge of the runway, so they initiated a go-around. During the go-around, the left-wing tip tank struck the runway. The flight crew diverted to another airport where the weather conditions were more favorable, and after landing, examination of the airplane revealed that the left wing had sustained substantial damage. The calculated crosswind component was 18 knots at the time of landing. According to the Airplane Flight Manual, the maximum demonstrated crosswind component was 24.7 knots.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.