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May 24, 1988 · Learjet 35A · N500RW

West Paterson, NJ

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 24, 1988
Injury Outcomes
4 injuries (4 fatalities)
Location
West Paterson, NJ
Aircraft
Learjet 35A
Tail Number
N500RW
Operator
United Executive Jet
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
ATL88MA184

WITNESSES RPTED A NORMAL TAKEOFF. RADAR INDICATED THE ACFT TURNED RIGHT AS CLEARED AND BEGAN CRUISE AT 1900 FT, HDG NW AT 235 KTS. 65 SECS AFTER CALLING CLEAR OF THE CONTROL ZONE THE ACFT'S RADAR TRACK ENDED. THE ACFT WAS FRAGMENTED BY THEIMPACT WITH ALL FLT CONTROL SURFACES AND ACFT EXTREMITIES FOUND AT THE IMPACT SITE. PITCH TRIM WAS FOUND IN THE NORMAL CRUISE SETTING WITH GEAR, FLAPS, AND SPOILERS IN THE RETRACTED POSITION. EXAM OF THE ENGS INDICATED OPERATION AT IMPACT.ACFT STRUCK THE TERRAIN IN APPROX 80 DEG NOSE DOWN, WNGS LEVEL ATTITUDE & HEADING OPPOSITE TO THE PREVIOUS DIRECTION OF FLT. IN FLIGHT SIMULATOR TESTS, WITH THE ACFT INITIALLY IN LEVEL FLT AT 1900 FEET AND THEN ROLLED INVERTED AND THE PITCHCONTROL MOVED AFT, THE ACFT ATTITUDE WAS SIMILAR TO THE ATTITUDE AT IMPACT. THERE WERE TWO UNAUTH PAX ON BOARD, ONE WAS THE COPILOT'S WIFE. THE IMPACT POINT WAS IN A VERY SMALL REGION OF UNCONTROLLED AIRSPACE VERY NEAR THE COPILOT'S AND RELATIVE'S HOMES. THE COPILOT WAS NEW TO JET OPERATIONS. THE ACFT DEPARTED WITH SEVERAL DISCREPANCIES UNCLEARED.

Full Narrative

WITNESSES RPTED A NORMAL TAKEOFF. RADAR INDICATED THE ACFT TURNED RIGHT AS CLEARED AND BEGAN CRUISE AT 1900 FT, HDG NW AT 235 KTS. 65 SECS AFTER CALLING CLEAR OF THE CONTROL ZONE THE ACFT'S RADAR TRACK ENDED. THE ACFT WAS FRAGMENTED BY THEIMPACT WITH ALL FLT CONTROL SURFACES AND ACFT EXTREMITIES FOUND AT THE IMPACT SITE. PITCH TRIM WAS FOUND IN THE NORMAL CRUISE SETTING WITH GEAR, FLAPS, AND SPOILERS IN THE RETRACTED POSITION. EXAM OF THE ENGS INDICATED OPERATION AT IMPACT.ACFT STRUCK THE TERRAIN IN APPROX 80 DEG NOSE DOWN, WNGS LEVEL ATTITUDE & HEADING OPPOSITE TO THE PREVIOUS DIRECTION OF FLT. IN FLIGHT SIMULATOR TESTS, WITH THE ACFT INITIALLY IN LEVEL FLT AT 1900 FEET AND THEN ROLLED INVERTED AND THE PITCHCONTROL MOVED AFT, THE ACFT ATTITUDE WAS SIMILAR TO THE ATTITUDE AT IMPACT. THERE WERE TWO UNAUTH PAX ON BOARD, ONE WAS THE COPILOT'S WIFE. THE IMPACT POINT WAS IN A VERY SMALL REGION OF UNCONTROLLED AIRSPACE VERY NEAR THE COPILOT'S AND RELATIVE'S HOMES. THE COPILOT WAS NEW TO JET OPERATIONS. THE ACFT DEPARTED WITH SEVERAL DISCREPANCIES UNCLEARED.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time03:16 EDT
Nearest AirportTeterboro (7nm WNW)
Runway19
Runway Length7000 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftLearjet 35A
Tail NumberN500RW
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorUnited Executive Jet
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeTurbofan
Engine DetailsGarrett · TFE-731-2-2B · Turbofan · 3500
Seats9

People & Injuries

Injury Summary4 injuries (4 fatalities)
Fatal4
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total4
Crew 1Age 36 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDark Night
Wind220° @ 4 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 8000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point68 F / 61 F
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time07:00
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data