ATL85MA282

NTSB accident investigation · Gates Learjet 35A · Auburn, AL · September 22, 1985

Accident · FatalMajor investigationFinal report
Date
September 22, 1985, 12:36 local (17:36 UTC)
Place
Auburn, AL
Injuries
2 fatal, 5 serious, 1 minor
Phase of flight
Approach
Aircraft
N873LPGates Learjet 35AUNREGChallenger II
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19850922051651A
Case key
6895

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Midair collisionApproach - vfr pattern - final approach
Control tower - unavailable
Radio communications - not possiblePilot of other aircraft
Visual lookout - inadequatePilot in commandCause
Visual lookout - inadequatePilot of other aircraftCause
In flight collision with terrain/waterDescent - uncontrolled
Midair collisionApproach - vfr pattern - final approach
Control tower - unavailable
Radio communications - not possiblePilot in command
Visual lookout - inadequatePilot in commandCause
Visual lookout - inadequatePilot of other aircraftCause
In flight collision with terrain/waterDescent - uncontrolled

Analysis

Drg arrival, the aircrew of a gates lear jet 35A, N873LP, canceled their IFR clearance & contacted the Auburn UNICOM, then entered the traffic pattern to land on rwy 18. The UNICOM operator rprtd that the lear jet crew had rprtd their position on each portion of the traffic pattern. At aprx the same time, the plt of an unregistered, experimental, challenger ii was in the traffic pattern for rwy 10. The 2 rwys intersected at their apch ends. Just before landing, the 2 acft collided as they were crossing ovr the intersection & crashed on the arpt. The challenger (a 2 place version of an ultralight vehicle) was not equipped with a radio & the UNICOM operator was unaware of its presence in the trafficpattern. The lear jet plt stated that neither he nor his coplt had seen any other traffic at the arpt. No indication was found that either crew had taken evasive action. An exam of the crash site revealed evidence that the collison had occurred aprx 50 ft abv the intersection.

Drg arrival, the aircrew of a gates lear jet 35A, N873LP, canceled their IFR clearance & contacted the Auburn UNICOM, then entered the traffic pattern to land on rwy 18. The UNICOM operator rprtd that the lear jet crew had rprtd their position on each portion of the traffic pattern. At aprx the same time, the plt of an unregistered, experimental, challenger ii was in the traffic pattern for rwy 10. The 2 rwys intersected at their apch ends. Just before landing, the 2 acft collided as they were crossing ovr the intersection & crashed on the arpt. The challenger (a 2 place version of an ultralight vehicle) was not equipped with a radio & the UNICOM operator was unaware of its presence in the trafficpattern. The lear jet plt stated that neither he nor his coplt had seen any other traffic at the arpt. No indication was found that either crew had taken evasive action. An exam of the crash site revealed evidence that the collision had occurred aprx 50 ft abv the intersection.

Aircraft · 2

Registration
N873LP
Reported as
Gates Learjet 35A
Category
Airplane
Serial number
104
Airframe hours
4,171
Engine
Garrett TFE-731-2-2B, 3,500 lbs thrust, turbo fan
Damage
Destroyed
Flight
Business · Part 91
Operator
Louisiana Pacific Corp.
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Transport
Departed
Destin, FL
Flight plan
IFR
Airport
AUO · Auburn-Opelika, runway 18, 3,945 × 75 ft, asphalt
Registration
UNREG
Reported as
Challenger II
Category
Airplane, amateur-built
Engine
Rotax 447-336.6CC, 25 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Destroyed
Flight
Ferry · Part 91
Operator
Recreational Aero,Inc.
Departed
Tuskegee, AL
Airport
AUO · Auburn-Opelika, runway 10, 4,000 × 100 ft, asphalt

Flight crew · 2

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot, aircraft N873LP
Age
40
Certificate
Airline transport
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, Unknown
Seat
Left
Flight hours
8,000 total · 1,100 in this make and model · 1 in the last 24 hours
Role
Pilot, aircraft 2
Age
48
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Center
Toxicology
Performed
Flight hours
354 total · 278 as pilot in command

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
Variable at 5 knots
Visibility
15 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
3,500 ft broken
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
CSG, 30 nm away

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.