# NTSB DCA94MA061: Learjet 25D, Chantilly, VA, June 18, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 1 · Major · Final report - Date: June 18, 1994, 06:25 local (10:25 UTC) - Place: Chantilly, VA - Location: 38.9300° N, 77.4558° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9300&lon=-77.4558&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 12 fatal - Status: Completed, report May 16, 1995 - Report: Board-adopted at Board Meeting - Investigation class: Class 1 - NTSB office: Major Investigations Division - Safety recommendations: Yes - NTSB case key (mKey): 10985 - NTSB case page: https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/DCA94MA061.aspx - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10985/pdf - Board report AAR9502 (PDF): https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/AAR9502.pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA94MA061 ## Probable cause THE POOR DECISIONMAKING, POOR AIRMANSHIP, AND RELATIVE INEXPERIENCE OF THE CAPTAIN IN INITIATING AND CONTINUING AN UNSTABILIZED INSTRUMENT APPROACH THAT LED TO A DESCENT BELOW THE AUTHORIZED ALTITUDE WITHOUT VISUAL CONTACT WITH THE RUNWAY ENVIRONMENT. CONTRIBUTING TO THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT WAS THE LACK OF A GROUND PROXIMITY WARNING SYSTEM ON THE AIRPLANE. (NTSB REPORT AAR-95/02) ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr) - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor) - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor) - weather condition - fog (contributing factor) - weather condition - below approach/landing minimums (contributing factor) - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (cause) - aircraft handling - poor, pilot in command (cause) - lack of total experience, pilot in command (cause) - ground proximity warning system - lack of (contributing factor) - minimum descent altitude - below, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis THE AIRPLANE CRASHED 0.8 NM SOUTH OF THE THRESHOLD OF THE RUNWAY DURING AN ILS APPROACH IN INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. THE CAPTAIN WAS NOT AUTHORIZED TO ATTEMPT THE APPROACH AND WAS RELATIVELY INEXPERIENCED FOR AN APPROACH UNDER THE WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE CAPTAIN FAILED TO ADHERE TO ACCEPTABLE STANDARDS OF AIRMANSHIP DURING TWO UNSTABILIZED APPROACHES. AFTER THE UNSUCCESSFUL ILS APPROACH TO RUNWAY 1R, THE CAPTAIN SHOULD HAVE HELD FOR IMPROVEMENTS IN THE WEATHER, REQUESTED THE RUNWAY 19L ILS, OR PROCEEDED TO HIS ALTERNATE. AN OPERATING GPWS ABOARD THE AIRPLANE WOULD HAVE PROVIDED CONTINUOUS WARNING TO THE CREW FOR THE LAST 64 SECONDS OF FLIGHT AND MIGHT HAVE PREVENTED THE ACCIDENT. ## Factual narrative On June 18, 1994, at 0625 eastern daylight time, a Mexican registered Learjet 25D, XABBA, collided with the terrain during an instrument landing system (ILS) approach about 1/4 mile from the threshold of runway 1R at Dulles International Airport (IAD), Virginia. The certificated pilot; the certificated co-pilot; and all ten passengers received fatal injuries. The airplane was destroyed during the impact sequence. The airplane was being operated as a non-scheduled passenger charter flight by TAESA of Mexico City, Mexico, a 14 CFR 129 certificated carrier operating in the U. S. A. under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The flight departed Mexico at 2315 hours, re-fueled and cleared U. S. Customs in New Orleans, Louisiana, and departed there at 0355 hours. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the flight. The flight arrived in the Washington, DC area and executed an ILS approach to IAD. The flight crew executed a missed approach and was attempting a second ILS approach at the time of the crash. ADDITIONAL PERSONS(CONTINUED): MARK TAYLOR, GENERAL ELECTRIC AIRCRAFT ENGINES, 1000 WESTERN AVE., LYNN, MA 01910 ## Aircraft - Registration: XABBA (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: LEARJET 25D - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 223 - Engines: GE CJ610-6 turbo jet - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Part 129 - Registered owner: Taesa - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, April 20, 1994 - Departed: NEW, NEW ORLEANS, LA - Destination: IAD - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: IAD, Washington Dulles Intl, runway 1R, 11,500 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; airline transport, foreign; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,706 total, 1,314 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Dawn - Wind: calm - Visibility: 0.5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 500 ft - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: IAD, 1 nm away 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.