# NTSB ANC08LA035: Learjet 35A, N351AS, Aniak, AK, February 21, 2008

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 21, 2008, 19:50 local (23:50 UTC)
- Place: Aniak, AK
- Coordinates: 61.581665, -159.54306
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.5817&lon=-159.5431&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 5 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 28, 2008
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: FAA-AL-ANC FSDO 03
- NTSB case key (mKey): 67583
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC08LA035
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67583/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC08LA035

## Probable cause

The captain's inadequate compensation for wind conditions during the landing flare/touchdown. Contributing to the accident were a crosswind and windshear.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Gates Learjet 35A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=5170602), [All aircraft, 1,014 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md)
- [Wind: windshear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Gates Learjet 35A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034020/cases.md?model=5170602), [All aircraft, 90 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034020/cases.md)
- [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified; cases with it: [Gates Learjet 35A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md?model=5170602), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: crosswind correction](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062030): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Gates Learjet 35A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062030/cases.md?model=5170602), [All aircraft, 184 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062030/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Gates Learjet 35A, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=5170602), [All aircraft, 5,010 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Gates Learjet 35A, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=5170602), [All aircraft, 10,152 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The flightcrew of a turbojet airplane were landing during dark night VFR conditions at the conclusion of an instrument flight rules (IFR) cross-country aeromedical positioning flight. The captain said he broke out of the cloud base about 1,200 feet msl, 7 miles from the runway. He said he was holding about 15 to 20 degrees of left crab to remain aligned with the runway centerline, and he felt a strong crosswind over the runway threshold. During the landing flare, the left wingtip fuel tank contacted the runway. The captain applied full right aileron and full right rudder, and the airplane touched down on the centerline. After parking, an inspection of the left wingtip fuel tank revealed scraping and flattening of about the aft third of the underside of the fuel tank. The upper surface of the wing, inboard from the tip tank, was wrinkled. The automated weather observing system (AWOS) was reporting, in part:  Wind, 270 degrees at 5 knots; visibility, 9 statute miles; clouds and sky condition, 1,200 feet overcast. The FAA Facility Directory/Alaska Supplement notes that "Because of natural obstructions, the AWOS-3 wind may be unrepresentative of runway wind conditions." The captain indicated that the landing approach speed was flown with additional airspeed to compensate for the wind conditions, and he noted that he could only assume that windshear contributed to the accident.

## Factual narrative

On February 21, 2008, about 1950 Alaska Standard time, a Learjet 35A airplane, N351AS, received substantial damage during the landing flare/touchdown at the Aniak Airport, Aniak, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as an instrument flight rules (IFR) cross-country aeromedical positioning flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by Chipola Aviation Inc., Panama City, Florida. The captain, an airline transport certificated pilot, the first officer, a commercial certificated pilot, and three medical crewmembers, were not injured. Dark night visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an IFR flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, Anchorage, Alaska, about 1905.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on February 22, the pilot, who is the director of operations for the operator, reported that the flight was positioning to Aniak to pick up a patient. He said he was on the GPS approach for landing on runway 28, and broke out of the cloud base about 1,200 feet msl, 7 miles from the runway. He was holding about 15 to 20 degrees of left crab to remain aligned with the runway centerline. The automated weather observing system (AWOS) was reporting the winds as 260 degrees at 4 knots. He experienced light to moderate turbulence during the approach, but no turbulence from about 1,000 to 100 feet msl. He said he felt a strong crosswind over the runway threshold, and during the flare, the left wingtip fuel tank contacted the runway. He applied full right aileron and full right rudder, and the airplane touched down on the centerline. After parking, an inspection of the left wingtip fuel tank revealed scraping and flattening of about the aft third of the underside of the tank. The upper surface of the wing, inboard from the tip tank, was wrinkled.

In the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1) submitted by the captain, he reported that during the approach, he utilized a landing approach (Vref) speed of 123 knots. He said that the final approach speed was Vref, plus 10 knots. The captain stated that he recalled the first officer reporting "Vref plus 5 [knots]," just before the left wingtip struck the runway.

The FAA's airport facility directory/Alaska Supplement, notes that Aniak, elevation 88 feet msl, has a hard-surfaced runway that is 6,000 feet long, and 150 feet wide. The airport is equipped with approach lights, high intensity runway lights, sequenced flashing lights, and visual approach slope indicator.

In the "Recommendation, How could this accident have been prevented" section of the NTSB Form 6120.1, the captain indicated that he thought that he "must be more cautious of windshear conditions," and said that he could "only assume that windshear contributed to this incident."

At 1956, an automated weather observing system (AWOS) at Aniak was reporting, in part:  Wind, 270 degrees at 5 knots; visibility, 9 statute miles; clouds and sky condition, 1,200 feet overcast; temperature, 9 degrees F; dew point, 4 degrees F; altimeter, 29.40 inHg. The FAA Facility Directory/Alaska Supplement notes that "Because of natural obstructions, the AWOS-3 wind may be unrepresentative of runway wind conditions."

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N351AS](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N351AS), registered now, S/N 146, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Learjet 35A
- Registry model: [Gates Learjet 35A](https://openairdocs.org/model/gates-learjet-35a) (registry code 5170602) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Garrett TFE731 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/garrett-tfe731-series) (registry code 29001, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 146
- Airframe hours: 11744
- Engines: Honeywell TFE-731 3500 lbs thrust turbo jet
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Operator: Chipola Aviation Inc.
- Registered owner: Maritime Sales and Leasing Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Departed: PANC, Anchorage, AK
- Destination: PANI, Aniak, AK
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: PANI, Aniak, runway 28, 6,000 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 56; injuries: none; airline transport, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 1, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 18,000 total, 4,000 in this make and model, 15,000 as pilot in command, 130 in the last 90 days, 54 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours
- Co-pilot; age 31; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 1, 2007; seat: rear; flight hours: 2,170 total, 1,150 in this make and model, 250 as pilot in command, 130 in the last 90 days, 115 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night
- Wind: 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,200 ft overcast
- Temperature: 9 °F, dew point 3 °F
- Altimeter: 29.39 inHg
- Observed at: PANI

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20080221012149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080221012149A), Feb 21, 2008: Lear 35A, Aniak, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) On February 21, 2008, at about 2054 local time, a Lear 35A airplane, N351AS, sustained major damage to its left wing tip fuel tank lower surface when it…

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.

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