# NTSB CHI97LA049: Gates Learjet LR35, N8040A, Kansas City, MO, January 1, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 1, 1997, 02:30 local (08:30 UTC) - Place: Kansas City, MO - Coordinates: 39.270996, -94.730438 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2710&lon=-94.7304&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 25, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10504 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI97LA049 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10504/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI97LA049 ## Probable cause the flightcrew's excessive airspeed and failure to attain a proper touchdown point on the runway. Factors were: the fog, wet runway, tailwind and improper procedures by the flight crew. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Overrun, landing - roll - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor) - weather condition - fog (contributing factor) - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - airspeed - excessive, flightcrew (cause) - procedures/directives - not followed, flightcrew (contributing factor) - proper touchdown point - not attained, flightcrew (cause) - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - wet (contributing factor) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - aircraft parked/standing - object - hangar/airport building ## Analysis The airplane had just executed an ILS runway 3 approach and was cleared to land by the control tower operator. The landing approach was flown with excessive airspeed. The airplane touched down on the runway with approximately 2,000 feet of runway remaining, and tire skid marks were seen for approximately 2,000 feet on the runway. The airplane went off the runway, past the departure end of the runway, and collided with 2 aircraft and a hangar. The airplane was not configured correctly for landing. The flaps were found at 20 degrees; both the AFM and company procedure recommend 40 degrees for landing. The drag chute had not been used. A review of the airframe and engines did not reveal any abnormalities, and the pilots did not report any malfunctions with the airframe or engines. The weather at the time of the accident was reported as 100 feet overcast with a runway 3 visibility range of 5,000 feet, the wind was from 200 degrees at 10 knots. The runway was wet. ## Factual narrative On January 1, 1997 at 0230 central standard time (cst), a Gates Lear Jet, N8040A, was substantially damaged when the airplane went of the left side, and past the departure end of runway 03, at the Kansas City Downtown Airport, Kansas City, Missouri. The airplane struck two aircraft, and a hanger after departing the runway. Neither flight crew member was injured in the accident. The 14 CFR Part 135 flight was operating on an instrument flight plan, and instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane had just executed an ILS runway 03 approach, and had been cleared to land by the control tower operator. The control tower operator witnessed the touch down of the aircraft, and reported that the airplane landed on the runway with approximately 2,000 feet of runway remaining. The tower operator advised the crew of the airplane that they were going to run out of runway, after the airplane had landed. There was no response from the crew of the Gates Lear Jet on tower frequency, following the tower operator's advisory. The airplane was inspected by a representative from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), on the day of the accident. The representative reported that he observed skid marks on the runway which began approximately 2,000 feet from the end of runway 03. The skid marks went from the center of the runway to the left side of the runway, and then continued through the grass. The airplane was found with the flaps set at 20 degrees and the drag chute stowed. The airplane flight manual, and company procedure recommend the use of forty degrees of flaps during landing. The altitude bug on the copilots altimeter was set at 900 feet. The decision height for the approach to runway 03 is listed at 994 feet. A review of the airframe and engines by the FAA representative did not reveal any abnormalities. In an interview of the pilot following the accident the pilot reported that runway 03 was chosen, because it had the minimum visibility required for the approach. The pilot was also aware that he was landing the airplane with almost a direct tailwind. Both pilots had flown into the airport where the accident occurred, on prior flights. The pilot did not report that there were any malfunctions with the airframe or engines. The weather at the time of the accident was reported as 100 feet overcast with a runway 03 visibility range of 5,000 feet, the wind was from 200 degrees at 10 knots. The runway was wet. The last radar data for the accident aircraft showed that at 1,000 feet (six feet above decision height) N8040A had a ground speed of 176 knots. The airplanes nose was crushed from hitting the other aircraft, and impacting with the hanger, the right tip tank had ruptured. ## Aircraft - Registration: N8040A (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Gates Learjet LR35 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 35-048 - Airframe hours: 8163 - Engines: Garrett TFE-731-2-2B 3500 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Registered owner: Airnet Systems Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Departed: APA, DENVER, CO - Destination: MKC - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: MKC, Kansas City Downtown, runway 3, 5,022 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 8,132 total, 4,711 in this make and model, 3,937 as pilot in command, 234 in the last 90 days, 81 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark - Wind: 200° at 10 knots - Visibility: 0.75 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 100 ft overcast - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: MKC ## 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 19970101000019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970101000019A), Jan 1, 1997: Lear 35LEAR, Kansas City, MO, Substantial damage. Landed long and fast. Failed use proper vref speed or use drag chute. Downwind. Overran runway. Hit parked aircraft 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.