# NTSB DCA87MA031: Learjet 35A, N100EP, West Mifflin, PA, May 12, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Major investigation · Final report
- Date: May 12, 1987, 10:57 local (14:57 UTC)
- Place: West Mifflin, PA
- Coordinates: 40.359809, -79.900558 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3598&lon=-79.9006&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report November 29, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Major Investigations Division
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15883
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA87MA031
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15883/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA87MA031

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - emergency procedure - simulated, pilot in command(cfi)
  - raising of flaps - premature, copilot/second pilot (cause)
  - airspeed - inadequate (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent (cause)
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff

## Analysis

THE COPLT (DUAL STUDENT) WAS TO GET A PROF CHECK ON THE 1ST LEG OF THE FLT WITH A SIMULATED SINGLE ENG PWR LOSS ON TKOF.ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THE TKOF WAS NORMAL UNTIL LIFT-OFF APRX 3200' DOWN THE RWY; BUT AFTER LIFT-OFF, THE ACFT CLBD ONLY ABOUT 50' & DIDN'T SEEM TO ACCELERATE. THEY RPRTD THE NOSE PITCHED UP & THE ACFT WENT IN A STEEP BANK ATTITUDE NR THE DEP END OF THE RWY. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT DSCNDD & CRASHED IN WOODED TERRAIN IN A RGT WING DOWN, NOSE HI ATTITUDE. A BY- STANDER TRIED TO GET IN THE ACFT TO RESCUE THE PLTS, BUT THE DOOR WAS JAMMED & HE WAS UNABLE TO BREAK THE CABIN WINDOWS.A FIRE ERUPTED & ENGULFED THE ACFT. DUE TO ROUGH TERRAIN, THERE WAS A DELAY IN GETTING FIRE FIGHTING EQUIPMENT TO THE ACDNT SITE. NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL FAILURES WERE FND. THE GEAR, FLAPS & SPOILERS WERE FND IN THE RETRACTED PSN. FOR TKOF, THE FLAPS SHOULD HAVE BEEN EXTD TO THE 8 OR 20 DEG POSITION. THE STALL SPEEDS FOR 20 DEG, 8 DEG & NO FLAPS WERE 104.5, 109.0 & 119.5 KTS, RESPECTIVELY. THE CAPT WAS AN FAA DESIGNATED FLT EXAMINER & A CERTIFIED FLT INSTRUCTOR (CFI).

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N100EP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N100EP-1990-04-27), registration cancelled 1990-04-27, S/N 150 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: LEARJET 35A
- Registry model: [Gates Learjet 35A](https://openairdocs.org/model/gates-learjet-35a) (registry code 5170602) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 150
- Airframe hours: 4203
- Engines: AIRESEARCH TFE-731-2-2B 3700 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Corporate Jets, Inc.
- Registered owner: Easle Jet Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, February 20, 1987, 168 hours before
- Departed: AGC
- Destination: TETERBORO, NJ
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: AGC, Allegheny County, runway 28, 6,500 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; 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; toxicology performed; flight hours: 10,211 total, 3,838 in this make and model, 8,517 as pilot in command, 78 in the last 90 days, 27 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 330° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,400 ft broken
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: AGC, 1 nm away

## Other investigations on N100EP (1)

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.

- [NTSB FTW78FA002](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW78FA002-201261), Oct 5, 1977: Lear 25B (N100EP), Amarillo, TX, destroyed

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.