# NTSB DCA83AA023: Gates Learjet 25, N51CA, Newark, NJ, March 30, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: March 30, 1983, 05:14 local (10:14 UTC)
- Place: Newark, NJ
- Location: 40.6925° N, 74.1687° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at NEWARK LIBERTY INTL (EWR), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6925&lon=-74.1687&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Board-adopted at Board Meeting
- NTSB office: Major Investigations Division
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15782
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA83AA023
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15782/pdf
- Board report AAR8411 (PDF): https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/AAR8411.pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA83AA023

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, landing
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - impairment(drugs), pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - other psychological condition, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - fatigue, pilot in command
  - pressure, pilot in command
  - judgment - poor, copilot/second pilot (cause)
  - impairment(drugs), copilot/second pilot (contributing factor)
  - other psychological condition, copilot/second pilot (contributing factor)
  - fatigue, copilot/second pilot
  - pressure, copilot/second pilot
  - light condition - dark night
  - fluid,fuel - asymmetrical
  - aircraft weight and balance - not maintained
  - planned approach - improper (cause)
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper (cause)
  - aircraft handling - not maintained (cause)
  - seat belt - not used, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing

## Analysis

THE ACFT WAS ON A NGT CHECK COURIER FLT. DURING ARRIVAL, THE INDICATED AIRSPEED WAS WELL ABOVE THE LEGAL LIMIT OF 250 KTFOR FLT BELOW 10,000 FT. RWY 4R WAS SELECTED FOR LANDING AFTER THE CREW WERE ADVISED THAT THEIR ORIGINAL CHOICE (RWY 11)WAS NOISE SENSITIVE. THEY WERE ADVISED NOT TO DESCEND BELOW 2000 FT UNTIL ON FINAL APCH. THE TURN TO FINAL WAS COMPLETEDABOUT 1 MI FROM THE RWY AT AN ALT OF APRX 700 FT. A STEEP (5 DEG) FINAL APCH WAS FLOWN WITH AN ESTIMATED 1000 FPM RATE OF DESCENT. ON LANDING, THE ACFT BOUNCED, BANKED/TURNED TO THE RGT, THEN IT HIT THE GROUND, RGT WING 1ST & BURNED. AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THE ACFT WAS CONFIGURED WITH THE GEAR EXTENDED, THE FLAPS DOWN 20 DEG & THE SPOILERS RETRACTED. NO EVIDENCE OF A PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND. THE TRIM WAS SET FOR A HVY RGT WING & THE FUEL SWS WERE SET TO X-FEED FUEL. TOX CHECKS SHOWED THAT BOTH PLTS HAD USED OR BEEN EXPOSED TO MARIJUANA & HAD CO2 IN THEIR BLOOD FROM SMOKING; USE OF MEDICATION (PHENYLPROPANOLAMINE) BY COPLT. EVIDENCE OF PSBL FATIGUE/STRESS TO BOTH.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N51CA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N51CA-2014-12-02), registration cancelled 2014-12-02, S/N 25-030, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GATES LEARJET 25
- Registry model: [Learjet 25](https://openairdocs.org/model/learjet-25) (registry code 5170506) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [GE CJ610-SER series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/ge-cj610-ser-series) (registry code 30006, turbo-jet) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 25-30
- Engines: GE CJ610-6 2950 lbs thrust turbo jet
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Hughes Charter Air
- Registered owner: Cahtham Corp.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: MDW, CHIGAGO, IL
- Destination: EWR
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: EWR, Newark Intl, runway 4R, 8,600 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 26; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: unknown, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 5,100 total, 2,350 in this make and model, 4,500 as pilot in command, 180 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 330° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Observed at: EWK, 1 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 19830330075779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830330075779A), Mar 30, 1983: Lear 25, Newark, NJ, Destroyed. Bounced on crosswind landing drifted downwind dragged a wing and cartwheeled. Pilots tested positive marijuana.

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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