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October 23, 1985 · Gates Learjet 24D · N456JA

Juneau, AK

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
October 23, 1985
Injury Outcomes
4 injuries (4 fatalities)
Location
Juneau, AK
Aircraft
Gates Learjet 24D
Tail Number
N456JA
Operator
Era Jet Alaska
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
SEA86MA018

DRG ARRIVAL TO PICK UP A MED-EVAC PATIENT, THE FLT WAS CLRD FOR AN LDA-1 RWY 8 APCH VIA THE ASORT TRANSITION. THUS, THE PLT SHOULD HAVE CONTD SE ON J-541 TWD THE SSR VORTAC & INTERCEPTED THE LOCALIZER (LOC) AT ASORT; THEN TRACK INBND ON THELOC (062 DEG), USING I-JDL FREQ 109.9 MHZ (FREQ FOR LOC & CO-LOCATED DME). AFTER ASORT, MIN ALT WAS 6500' TO DIBOL INTX,5100' TO LYNNS INTXN & 3400' TO THE FAF AT BARLO INTXN. DME FM I-JDL TO THE INTXNS WAS: 18.2, 13.5 & 8 MI. DME FM SSR (SOUTH OF LOC TRACK) TO THE INTXNS WAS 11.2, 12.7 & APRX 16 MI. FLT RPRTD ASORT INBND WHILE DSCNDG THRU APRX 9500'. LASTRDO CALL WAS 30 SEC LATER WHILE DSCNDG THRU 8200', 14 MI WEST OF DIBOL. APRX 4 MI WEST OF DIBOL, ACFT IMPACTED MTN SIDE AT 3500' MSL. NO PREIMPACT MECH MALFUNCTION WAS FND. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT BOTH NAV'S WERE TUNED TO 109.9 MHZ, BUT DME CTL HEAD WAS INADVERTENTLY LEFT IN 'HOLD' PSN (LOCKING DME TO SSR RATHER THAN I-JDL) & CREW BEGAN A PREMATURE DSCNT.JUNEAU WX WAS IN PART: 600' SCATTERED, 3000' OVERCAST, 7 MI VISIBILITY. PIC WAS CURRENTLY FLYING BOTH LEARJET & DHC-7.

Full Narrative

DRG ARRIVAL TO PICK UP A MED-EVAC PATIENT, THE FLT WAS CLRD FOR AN LDA-1 RWY 8 APCH VIA THE ASORT TRANSITION. THUS, THE PLT SHOULD HAVE CONTD SE ON J-541 TWD THE SSR VORTAC & INTERCEPTED THE LOCALIZER (LOC) AT ASORT; THEN TRACK INBND ON THELOC (062 DEG), USING I-JDL FREQ 109.9 MHZ (FREQ FOR LOC & CO-LOCATED DME). AFTER ASORT, MIN ALT WAS 6500' TO DIBOL INTX,5100' TO LYNNS INTXN & 3400' TO THE FAF AT BARLO INTXN. DME FM I-JDL TO THE INTXNS WAS: 18.2, 13.5 & 8 MI. DME FM SSR (SOUTH OF LOC TRACK) TO THE INTXNS WAS 11.2, 12.7 & APRX 16 MI. FLT RPRTD ASORT INBND WHILE DSCNDG THRU APRX 9500'. LASTRDO CALL WAS 30 SEC LATER WHILE DSCNDG THRU 8200', 14 MI WEST OF DIBOL. APRX 4 MI WEST OF DIBOL, ACFT IMPACTED MTN SIDE AT 3500' MSL. NO PREIMPACT MECH MALFUNCTION WAS FND. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT BOTH NAV'S WERE TUNED TO 109.9 MHZ, BUT DME CTL HEAD WAS INADVERTENTLY LEFT IN 'HOLD' PSN (LOCKING DME TO SSR RATHER THAN I-JDL) & CREW BEGAN A PREMATURE DSCNT.JUNEAU WX WAS IN PART: 600' SCATTERED, 3000' OVERCAST, 7 MI VISIBILITY. PIC WAS CURRENTLY FLYING BOTH LEARJET & DHC-7.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time20:43 AKDT
Nearest AirportJuneau Intl (28nm WSW)
Runway8
Runway Length8456 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftGates Learjet 24D
Tail NumberN456JA
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorEra Jet Alaska
Operating RulePart 135
Engines2
Engine TypeTurbojet
Engine DetailsGe · CJ-610-6 · Turbojet · 2950
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury Summary4 injuries (4 fatalities)
Fatal4
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total4
Crew 1Age 27 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsUnknown
LightDark Night
WindCalm
Visibility7 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point34 C / 34 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time23:59
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data