# NTSB ATL90MA051: Learjet 23, N331DP, Ansonia, OH, January 18, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Major investigation · Final report
- Date: January 18, 1990, 05:51 local (10:51 UTC)
- Place: Ansonia, OH
- Coordinates: 40.209445, -84.630157 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.2094&lon=-84.6302&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 5, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 8288
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL90MA051
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8288/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL90MA051

## Probable cause

THE FLIGHT CREW BECAME INCAPACITATED FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS AND LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, climb - to cruise
  - aircraft control - not maintained
  - incapacitation, pilot in command (cause)
  - incapacitation, copilot/second pilot (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

AT 0515 EST, THE FLT WAS CLRD FOR TAKEOFF ON A FLT FM YPLISANTA, MI TO LOUISVILLE, KY.  ABT 17 MIN LATER, THE FLT CREW BGN TO DISPLAY INDCNS OF A DETERIORATION OF THEIR ABILITY TO CTL THE ACFT. AT 1ST, THEY DEVIATED FM INSTRNS TO HOLD WEST OF THE FINDLAY VOR AT FL220. AS THE FLT CONTD & WAS CLRD TO FL270, THE CREW DISPLAYED CONFUSION ABT MAG HDGS & BASIC INSTRNS. AT 1048 EST, THE ACFT DEVIATED FM THE EN ROUTE HDG & THE WRONG HDG WAS READ BACK AFTER A HDG CORRECTION WAS GIVEN. ALSO, THE ACFT CONTD CLIMBING (TO FL291), THEN RADAR & RADIO CTC WERE LOST AT 0551 EST. THE CTLR NOTED THE PLT'S SPEECH WAS SLURRED & SOME PORTIONS OF THE CONVERSATION WERE UNINTELLIGIBLE. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT CRASHED IN A STEEP DIVE. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE WAS VERIFIED, THOUGH IMPACT FORCES & POST-CRASH FIRE RESULTED IN EXTSV DMG OF THE ACFT. THE ACFT WAS EQUIPPED WITH OXYGEN & PRESSURIZATION SYS. NO AUDIBLE WARNING WAS NOTED ON ATC RECORDINGS TO INDC THE CABIN ALT HAD EXCEEDED 10,000', THOUGH THE ACFT WAS EQUIPPED WITH SUCH A DEVICE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N331DP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N331DP-1990-10-22), registration cancelled 1990-10-22, S/N 23067 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: LEARJET 23
- Registry model: [Learjet 23](https://openairdocs.org/model/learjet-23) (registry code 5170102) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 067
- Engines: GE CJ-610-4 2850 lbs thrust turbo jet
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 91
- Operator: Aero Smith Leasing, doing business as Aero Flight Services
- Departed: YIP, YPLISANTA, MI
- Destination: SDF, LOUISVILLE, KY
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 20,000 total, 168 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 330° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,100 ft broken
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Observed at: DAY, 42 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 19900118000659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900118000659A), Jan 18, 1990: Lear 23LEAR, Ansonia, OH, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Crashed and burned. ATC reported pilots speech slurred. Read back on vector headings incorrect according to ATC.

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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