# NTSB ATL85MA282: Gates Learjet 35A, N873LP, Auburn, AL, September 22, 1985 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Major investigation · Final report - Date: September 22, 1985, 12:36 local (17:36 UTC) - Place: Auburn, AL - Coordinates: 32.589267, -85.480293 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.5893&lon=-85.4803&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 2 fatal, 5 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 6895 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL85MA282 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/6895/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL85MA282 ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Midair collision, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - control tower - unavailable - radio communications - not possible, pilot of other aircraft - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - Midair collision, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - control tower - unavailable - radio communications - not possible, pilot in command - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis (aircraft 2) 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. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) 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 1 - Registration: N873LP (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Gates Learjet 35A - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 104 - Airframe hours: 4171 - Engines: GARRETT TFE-731-2-2B 3500 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 ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: UNREG (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: CHALLENGER II - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Engines: 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 As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N873LP; age 40; 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 - Pilot, aircraft 2; age 48; 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19850922051651A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850922051651A), Sep 22, 1985: Lear 35A, Auburn, AL, Destroyed. On short final for runway 18, collided with an ultra light on final for runway 10. Impacted runway and burned. 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. --- 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.