# NTSB CHI91FA032: Gates Learjet 25B, N5LL, Chicago, IL, November 26, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: November 26, 1990, 05:15 local (11:15 UTC)
- Place: Chicago, IL
- Location: 41.9769° N, 87.9081° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at CHICAGO O'HARE INTL (ORD), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9769&lon=-87.9081&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 2 uninjured; on the ground: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report December 14, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 14887
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI91FA032
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/14887/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI91FA032

## Probable cause

THE DRIVER'S INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE COMPANY'S CONFIGURING THE TRUCK WITH MIRRORS WHICH OBSTRUCT FORWARD VISIBILITY.

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water collision with object, taxi - from landing
  - light condition - dark night
  - object - vehicle
  - visual lookout - inadequate, driver of vehicle (cause)

## Analysis

A TAXIING TWIN TURBOJET COLLIDED AT NIGHT WITH AN AIRLINE SERVICE TRUCK IN AN INTERSECTION OF A TAXIWAY AND SERVICE ROAD. WEATHER WAS CLEAR AND DRY. THE AIRCREW SAW THE TRUCK SLOW APPROACHING THE INTERSECTION AND DID NOT NOTICE IT AGAIN UNTIL IT ENTERED THE TAXIWAY. THE DRIVER STATED HE STOPPED, DID NOT SEE THE PLANE AND PROCEEDED. THE CREW STATED TAXI LIGHTS, ROTATING BECAONS AND NAVIGATION LIGHTS WERE ON. THE TAXIWAY AND INTERSECTION WERE NOT ILLUMINATED. THE BACKGROUND IN THE DRIVER'S VIEW TO THE APPROACHING AIRPLANE WAS A BRIGHTLY LIT TERMINAL. THE DRIVER'S VIEW FROM THE TRUCK CAB WAS PARTIALLY OBSTRUCTED BY EYE-LEVEL MIRRORS MOUNTED OUTBOARD ON EACH DOOR FOR A REAR VIEW PAST THE TRUCK'S CUSTOM BODY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N5LL (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Gates Learjet 25B
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 183
- Airframe hours: 8490
- Engines: GE CJ-610-6 2950 lbs thrust turbo jet
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91 subpart F
- Operator: Connie Kalitta Services Inc
- Registered owner: Connie Kalitta Ser. Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: AAIP, October 21, 1990, 39 hours before
- Departed: YIP, YPSILANTI, MI
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: ORD, Chicago O'Hare

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 28; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 8,000 total, 600 in this make and model, 7,500 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 100° at 9 knots
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Observed at: ORD

## 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 19901126051929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19901126051929A), Nov 26, 1990: Lear 25B, Chicago, IL, Substantial damage. Service truck crossed taxiway in front of taxiing aircraft and collided with its right wing and tip tank.

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.