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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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June 12, 1982 · Learjet 23 · N5DM

Abilene, TX

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 12, 1982
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (8 uninjured)
Location
Abilene, TX
Aircraft
Learjet 23
Tail Number
N5DM
Operator
Donald L Mccoy
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
FTW82FPD14

About 5 min after takeoff, the pilot initiated a high speed low pass over the airport. When the aircraft was about 1000 ft from the airport at about 100 ft AGL, the right winglet separated. A witness estimated that the aircraft's speed was about 200 mph. Subsequently, the plane rolled inverted and crashed. An examination revealed that the winglet was not installed in accordance to the designer's plans. Specifically, the plans called for an 8-ply fiberglass build-up on the outside radius from the lower wing to the outside surface of the winglet. This build-up was not incorporated. The designer estimated that it had less than 1/20 of the design strength. At high speed, with zero side slip, there is an inward aerodynamic (bending) load on the winglet that is equivalent to a 15 deg side slip at low speed. This winglet had failed inward. Also, a number of other deviations from the designers plans were noted.

Full Narrative

ABOUT 5 MIN AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PILOT INITIATED A HIGH SPEED LOW PASS OVER THE AIRPORT. WHEN THE AIRCRAFT WAS ABOUT 1000 FT FROM THE AIRPORT AT ABOUT 100 FT AGL, THE RICHT WINGLET SEPARATED. A WITNESS ESTIMATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT'S SPEED WAS ABOUT 200 MPH. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE PLANE ROLLED INVERTED AND CRASHED. AN EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE WINGLET WAS NOT INSTALLED IN ACCORDANCE TO THE DESIGNER'S PLANS. SPECIFICALLY, THE PLANS CALLED FOR AN 8-PLY FIBERGLASS BUILD-UP ON THE OUTSIDE RADIUS FROM THE LOWER WING TO THE OUTSIDE SURFACE OF THE WINGLET. THIS BUILD-UP WAS NOT INCORPORTED. THE DESIGNER ESTIMATED THAT IT HAD LESS THAN 1/20 OF THE DESIGN STRENGTH. AT HIGH SPEED, WITH ZERO SIDE SLIP, THERE IS AN INWARD AERODYNAMIC (BENDING) LOAD ON THE WINGLET THAT IS EQUIVALENT TO A 15 DEG SIDE SLIP AT LOW SPEED. THIS WINGLET HAD FAILED INWARD. ALSO, A NUMBER OF OTHER DEVIATIONS FROM THE DESIGNERS PLANS WERE NOTED.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time19:32 CDT
Nearest AirportABILENE (0nm N)
Runway35
Runway Length7199 ft
Runway Width50 ft
Flight Plan FiledVFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftLearjet 23
Tail NumberN5DM
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorDonald L Mccoy
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeTurbojet
Engine DetailsGe · CJ610 · Turbojet · 2850
Seats8

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (8 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured8
Total8
Crew 1Age 46 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind30° @ 20 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingOvercast 10000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point16 C / 0 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg

Appendix: Source Data