Premium research interface

The modern interface for aviation safety intelligence.

Search investigations, review source evidence, monitor watched reports, and trace long-term patterns from one calm, data-first workspace.

63k+
Reports indexed
1940-2026
Coverage
Recent
Last data refresh
Featured Report

Loading…

Loading featured report…

Loading…
Open Report

Safety trends by operating rule

Track fatal and non-fatal accident patterns across Part 91, Part 135, and Part 121 operations.

Loading trend charts…

Browse the aviation graph

Move quickly by aircraft, airport, operator, and time with indexes built for research, not wandering.

Last Data Update

By Decade

By Month

Aircraft Manufacturer

More manufacturers

Airports

More airports

Operators

More operators

About

Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

The goal is practical safety education: make it faster to find relevant investigations, compare similar events, review factual records, and understand the evidence behind probable-cause and preliminary reports.

The investigative work and source records belong to the National Transportation Safety Board and the published investigation record. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NTSB.

FAQs

NTSB Report

August 20, 1985 · Gates Learjet 24D · N455JA

Gulkana, AK

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 20, 1985
Injury Outcomes
3 injuries (3 fatalities)
Location
Gulkana, AK
Aircraft
Gates Learjet 24D
Tail Number
N455JA
Operator
Era Helicopters
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
ANC85MA157

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.

Full 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.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time02:05 AKDT
Nearest AirportGULKANA (9nm NW)
Runway14
Runway Length4200 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftGates Learjet 24D
Tail NumberN455JA
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorEra Helicopters
Operating RulePart 135
Engines2
Engine TypeTurbojet
Engine DetailsGe · CJ-610-6 · Turbojet · 2950
Seats8

People & Injuries

Injury Summary3 injuries (3 fatalities)
Fatal3
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total3
Crew 1Age 31 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDark Night
Wind180° @ 11 kt, gusting 12 kt
Visibility7 sm
CeilingOvercast 9000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Observation Time06:20
Weather SourceWIT

Appendix: Source Data