DEN91FA043

NTSB accident investigation · Learjet 35A · Aspen, CO · February 14, 1991

Accident · FatalField investigationFinal report
Date
February 13, 1991, 17:41 local (Feb 14, 1991, 00:41 UTC)
Place
Aspen, CO
Injuries
3 fatal
Damage
Destroyed
Phase of flight
Approach
Aircraft
N535PCLearjet 35A
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report December 4, 1992
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19910213002299A
Case key
18014

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The flight crew's failure to maintain airspeed and control of the airplane while maneuvering to land. Contributing factors were the flight crew's execution of an unstabilized approach and the surrounding snow-covered mountainous terrain.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of control - in flightCircling (ifr)
FlightcrewFactor
Airspeed - not maintainedFlightcrewCause
Stall - inadvertentFlightcrew
In flight collision with terrain/waterCircling (ifr)
Terrain condition - mountainous/hillyFactor
Terrain condition - snow coveredFactor

Analysis

The flight crew reported to the tower controller that they were over the airport and requested a right downwind circling approach to runway 15. The tower controller and other witnesses observed the airplane in a steep right bank on base leg. The airplane overshot the extended runway centerline. The tower controller observed the airplane entering a steeper right bank to correct back to the runway centerline. The controller stated that he observed the airplane "flutter" and then crash right-wing first, about one mile north of the runway threshold. Other witnesses reported a variety of indications consistent with a loss of control. The last recorded transmission was "Oh no you're (stall…)." The ( ) indicates that the word was questionable text. Both engines were producing about 1,700 pounds of thrust (2,561 pounds available). A snow squall had just passed over the airport and was obscuring mountains to the east. The terrain was snow covered. The accident occurred about eight minutes before official sunset. The approach procedure is not authorized at night or for category D airplanes. Minimums for the approach were three miles visibility with an MDA of 10,840 feet. Airport elevation is 7,815 feet. Both pilots were rated in the airplane. It could not be determined which pilot was at the controls at the time of the accident.

Aircraft

Registration
N535PC
Reported as
Learjet 35A
Category
Airplane
Serial number
35A-291
Engine
Garrett TFE 731-2-2B, 3,500 lbs thrust, turbo fan
Damage
Destroyed
Fire
On-Ground
Flight
Part 135
Registered owner
Richmor Aviation
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Continuous airworthiness · December 31, 1990
Departed
LAS · Las Vegas, NV
Flight plan
IFR
Airport
ASE · Sardy Field, runway 15, 7,003 × 100 ft, asphalt

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
38
Certificates
Airline transport, Commercial, Flight instructor
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Toxicology
Performed
Flight hours
10,530 total · 3,700 in this make and model · 8,330 as pilot in command

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
350° at 5 knots
Visibility
7 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
1,000 ft overcast
Temperature
34 °F, dew point 25 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
ASE, 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.