- Date
- July 15, 1990, 02:14 local (06:14 UTC)
- Place
- Benton Harbor, MI
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N45CPLearjet LR-24D
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report September 15, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19900715025759A
- Case key
- 14705
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
Pilot-in-command's misjudged approach to landing, which resulted in the aircraft running off the departure end of the runway into a ravine. The late, dark night, IFR conditions contributed to the accident.
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.
Analysis
The pilot stated that after refueling at a nearby airport, he and his co-pilot returned to Benton Harbor, Michigan to position the aircraft for an organ transplant flight. He stated that he shot the ILS approach to runway 27, and broke out at about 1100 feet, with an estimated 6 miles visibility. He reported that the 'high intensity approach lights were on full bright, destroying my night vision....'he stated that once they passed the approach lights he was unable to see the runway surface, and the the aircraft 'must have floated....'he was unable to stop before running off the end of the runway. The co-pilot's statement concurs. The pilot-in-command reported a total flight time of 8,300 hours, including 2,100 hours in the accident make and model, and 5,000 hours of night flight experience.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N45CP
- Reported as
- Learjet LR-24D
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 242
- Airframe hours
- 7,322
- Engine
- GE CJ-610-8A, 2,950 lbs thrust, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Positioning · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Concrete Pipe & Products Co.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Unknown · March 30, 1990 · 163 hours before
- Departed
- SBN · South Bend, IN
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- BEH · Benton Harbor Ross Field, runway 27, 5,100 × 100 ft, asphalt
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 47
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter, Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 8,300 total · 2,100 in this make and model · 5,000 as pilot in command · 200 in the last 90 days · 60 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 1,100 ft broken
- Temperature
- 63 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.