# Accident 20021203033119A: Lear 36A, Astoria, OR, December 3, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 3, 2002, 06:12 local time
- Place: Astoria, OR
- Airport: Port Of Astoria Airport
- Damage: Destroyed
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 46.1581° N, 123.8786° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.1581&lon=-123.8786&mi=10
- Aircraft: N546PA, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N546PA-2003-06-24) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Gates Lear Jet 36A (registry code 5170603, https://openairdocs.org/model/gates-lear-jet-36a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: AiResearch TFE731 series (registry code 01518, https://openairdocs.org/engine/airesearch-tfe731-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: LEAR 36A
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA03LA010](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA03LA010) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20021203033119A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) ON TUESDAY DEC 3, 2002 AT 0612 AM, LEAR JET N546PA DEPARTED ASTORIA, OR AIRPORT ON AN IFR FLIGHT UNDER PART 91. THE AIRPORT WAS VFR WITH A 3500 FOOT OVERCAST AND NIGHT CONDITIONS PREVAILED. THE AIRCRAFT STARTED TO TAKE-OFF ROLE ON RUNWAY 8 (5800 FT X 100 FT). AS THE AIRCRAFT WAS REACHING VR (143 KTS) AND 3000 FT REMAINING IT STRUCK AN ELK JUST OUTBOARD OF THE LEFT WING ROOT. ACCORDING TO THE CREW THEY COULD NOT SEE THE ELK BEFORE IMPACT. THE FUEL CELL WAS RUPTURED AND MISTING FUEL IGNITED AS IT SPRAYED BACK OVER THE LEFT ENGINE AND ONTO THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT NEARLY WENT OFF THE LEFT RUNWAY EDGE BUT THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO REGAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND ABORTED THE TAKE-OFF. THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED OFF THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY 190 FEET, THE GEAR COLLAPSED IN THE MUD AND CAME TO REST (ON FIRE) IN A MARSH AREA. THE CREW AND TWO TECHNICIANS HAD SOME DIFFICULTY OPENING THE TOP HALF OF THE CABIN DOOR DUE TO THE BRUSH. THE PILOT PULLED BOTH FIRE T HANDLES AND ALL EXITED THE AIRCRAFT UNHURT. WITHIN MOMENTS THE COAST GUARD ARRIVED ON SCENE AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE AIRCRAFT, OPERATED BY THE PHOENIX AIR GROUP (1-800-334-5360) WAS ON A MISSION FOR THE CANADIAN NAVY TO TEST THEIR ELECTRONIC DETECTION SYSTEMS. THE AIRCRAFT IS CERTIFICATED IN THE RESTRICTED CATEGORY. BOTH PILOTS ARE TRAINED AND CURRENT UNDER A PART 135 CERTIFICATE (ESPA). THE AIRCRAFT TAKE-OFF WT. WAS 17,000LBS (18,300 MAX PERMISSIBLE). THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB SEA03LA010](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA03LA010), Dec 3, 2002: Learjet 36A (N546PA), Astoria, OR, destroyed. Probable cause: Collision with an elk during the takeoff roll. Factors include dark night VFR conditions.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.