# NTSB ATL88MA184: Learjet 35A, N500RW, West Paterson, NJ, May 24, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Major investigation · Final report
- Date: May 24, 1988, 03:16 local (07:16 UTC)
- Place: West Paterson, NJ
- Location: 40.8813° N, 74.1883° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from TETERBORO (TEB), within about 2 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8813&lon=-74.1883&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report August 4, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7821
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL88MA184
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7821/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL88MA184

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - maneuver - attempted, pilot in command (cause)
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type operation, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of total experience in type operation, copilot/second pilot (contributing factor)
  - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - attempted, company maintenance personnel

## Analysis

WITNESSES RPTED A NORMAL TAKEOFF. RADAR INDICATED THE ACFT TURNED RIGHT AS CLEARED AND BEGAN CRUISE AT 1900 FT, HDG NW AT 235 KTS. 65 SECS AFTER CALLING CLEAR OF THE CONTROL ZONE THE ACFT'S RADAR TRACK ENDED. THE ACFT WAS FRAGMENTED BY THEIMPACT WITH ALL FLT CONTROL SURFACES AND ACFT EXTREMITIES FOUND AT THE IMPACT SITE. PITCH TRIM WAS FOUND IN THE NORMAL CRUISE SETTING WITH GEAR, FLAPS, AND SPOILERS IN THE RETRACTED POSITION. EXAM OF THE ENGS INDICATED OPERATION AT IMPACT.ACFT STRUCK THE TERRAIN IN APPROX 80 DEG NOSE DOWN, WNGS LEVEL ATTITUDE & HEADING OPPOSITE TO THE PREVIOUS DIRECTION OF FLT. IN FLIGHT SIMULATOR TESTS, WITH THE ACFT INITIALLY IN LEVEL FLT AT 1900 FEET AND THEN ROLLED INVERTED AND THE PITCHCONTROL MOVED AFT, THE ACFT ATTITUDE WAS SIMILAR TO THE ATTITUDE AT IMPACT. THERE WERE TWO UNAUTH PAX ON BOARD, ONE WAS THE COPILOT'S WIFE. THE IMPACT POINT WAS IN A VERY SMALL REGION OF UNCONTROLLED AIRSPACE VERY NEAR THE COPILOT'S AND RELATIVE'S HOMES. THE COPILOT WAS NEW TO JET OPERATIONS. THE ACFT DEPARTED WITH SEVERAL DISCREPANCIES UNCLEARED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N500RW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N500RW-1989-03-22), registration cancelled 1989-03-22, S/N 148 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: LEARJET 35A
- Registry model: [Gates Learjet 35A](https://openairdocs.org/model/gates-learjet-35a) (registry code 5170602) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 35A
- Airframe hours: 4735
- Engines: GARRETT TFE-731-2-2B 3500 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Operator: United Executive Jet, Inc., doing business as Jetcorp
- Registered owner: Air Srv Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, April 25, 1988, 45 hours before
- Departed: TEB, TETERBORO, NJ
- Destination: MMU, MORRISTOWN, NJ
- Airport: TEB, Teterboro, runway 19, 7,000 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 8,910 total, 759 in this make and model, 8,047 as pilot in command, 114 in the last 90 days, 42 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 220° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: TEB, 7 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 19880524029049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880524029049A), May 24, 1988: Lear 35A, Teterboro, NJ, Destroyed, 4 fatal. Near vertical impact from short low level flight. No mechanical defects found.

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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