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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.

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March 30, 1983 · Gates Learjet 25 · N51CA

Newark, NJ

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
March 30, 1983
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Location
Newark, NJ
Aircraft
Gates Learjet 25
Tail Number
N51CA
Operator
Hughes Charter Air
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
DCA83AA023

THE ACFT WAS ON A NGT CHECK COURIER FLT. DURING ARRIVAL, THE INDICATED AIRSPEED WAS WELL ABOVE THE LEGAL LIMIT OF 250 KTFOR FLT BELOW 10,000 FT. RWY 4R WAS SELECTED FOR LANDING AFTER THE CREW WERE ADVISED THAT THEIR ORIGINAL CHOICE (RWY 11)WAS NOISE SENSITIVE. THEY WERE ADVISED NOT TO DESCEND BELOW 2000 FT UNTIL ON FINAL APCH. THE TURN TO FINAL WAS COMPLETEDABOUT 1 MI FROM THE RWY AT AN ALT OF APRX 700 FT. A STEEP (5 DEG) FINAL APCH WAS FLOWN WITH AN ESTIMATED 1000 FPM RATE OF DESCENT. ON LANDING, THE ACFT BOUNCED, BANKED/TURNED TO THE RGT, THEN IT HIT THE GROUND, RGT WING 1ST & BURNED. AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THE ACFT WAS CONFIGURED WITH THE GEAR EXTENDED, THE FLAPS DOWN 20 DEG & THE SPOILERS RETRACTED. NO EVIDENCE OF A PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND. THE TRIM WAS SET FOR A HVY RGT WING & THE FUEL SWS WERE SET TO X-FEED FUEL. TOX CHECKS SHOWED THAT BOTH PLTS HAD USED OR BEEN EXPOSED TO MARIJUANA & HAD CO2 IN THEIR BLOOD FROM SMOKING; USE OF MEDICATION (PHENYLPROPANOLAMINE) BY COPLT. EVIDENCE OF PSBL FATIGUE/STRESS TO BOTH.

Full Narrative

THE ACFT WAS ON A NGT CHECK COURIER FLT. DURING ARRIVAL, THE INDICATED AIRSPEED WAS WELL ABOVE THE LEGAL LIMIT OF 250 KTFOR FLT BELOW 10,000 FT. RWY 4R WAS SELECTED FOR LANDING AFTER THE CREW WERE ADVISED THAT THEIR ORIGINAL CHOICE (RWY 11)WAS NOISE SENSITIVE. THEY WERE ADVISED NOT TO DESCEND BELOW 2000 FT UNTIL ON FINAL APCH. THE TURN TO FINAL WAS COMPLETEDABOUT 1 MI FROM THE RWY AT AN ALT OF APRX 700 FT. A STEEP (5 DEG) FINAL APCH WAS FLOWN WITH AN ESTIMATED 1000 FPM RATE OF DESCENT. ON LANDING, THE ACFT BOUNCED, BANKED/TURNED TO THE RGT, THEN IT HIT THE GROUND, RGT WING 1ST & BURNED. AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THE ACFT WAS CONFIGURED WITH THE GEAR EXTENDED, THE FLAPS DOWN 20 DEG & THE SPOILERS RETRACTED. NO EVIDENCE OF A PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND. THE TRIM WAS SET FOR A HVY RGT WING & THE FUEL SWS WERE SET TO X-FEED FUEL. TOX CHECKS SHOWED THAT BOTH PLTS HAD USED OR BEEN EXPOSED TO MARIJUANA & HAD CO2 IN THEIR BLOOD FROM SMOKING; USE OF MEDICATION (PHENYLPROPANOLAMINE) BY COPLT. EVIDENCE OF PSBL FATIGUE/STRESS TO BOTH.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time05:14 EST
Nearest AirportNewark Intl (0nm N)
Runway4R
Runway Length8600 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftGates Learjet 25
Tail NumberN51CA
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorHughes Charter Air
Operating RulePart 135
Engines2
Engine TypeTurbojet
Engine DetailsGe · CJ610-6 · Turbojet · 2950

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Fatal2
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 26 · Unknown

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDark Night
Wind330° @ 9 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Observation Time09:50
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data