# NTSB ERA20CA113: Learjet 55, N135LR, Farmingdale, NJ, February 26, 2020

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: February 25, 2020, 23:56 local (Feb 26, 2020, 04:56 UTC)
- Place: Farmingdale, NJ
- Coordinates: 40.186668, -74.124443 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1867&lon=-74.1244&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 5 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 27, 2020
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 101002
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA20CA113
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101002/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101002
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20CA113

## Probable cause

The flight crew's failure to stop the airplane on the available runway, which was wet and resulted in the airplane impacting a ditch.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Flight crew (probable cause); cases with it: [Gates Learjet 55, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=5170702), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Aircraft capability: landing distance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061030): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Gates Learjet 55, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061030/cases.md?model=5170702), [All aircraft, 68 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061030/cases.md)
- [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: wet surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Gates Learjet 55, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023010/cases.md?model=5170702), [All aircraft, 141 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023010/cases.md)
- [Terrain: sloped/uneven terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Gates Learjet 55, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md?model=5170702), [All aircraft, 270 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md)
- [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Flight crew; cases with it: [Gates Learjet 55, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=5170702), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Gates Learjet 55, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=5170702), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); cases with it: [Gates Learjet 55, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=5170702), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Gates Learjet 55, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=5170702), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Gates Learjet 55, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=5170702), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Gates Learjet 55, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=5170702), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he and the copilot were conducting an instrument approach to the runway in a business jet. He noted that the weather conditions included fog and mist. After touching down about 1,500 ft down the 7,300-ft-long runway, he engaged the thrust reversers and applied the brakes gradually because the runway was "slippery." As the airplane approached the end of the runway, he applied full braking, but the airplane departed the end of the runway and impacted a ditch, which resulted in the forward landing gear breaking and the airplane nosing down. The copilot corroborated the pilot's statement. The fuselage was substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

At the conclusion of an uneventful on-demand, instrument flight rules flight at night, the flight crew of the business jet conducted an instrument approach to a runway that was about 7,300 feet long. The crew noted that the weather conditions during the approach included fog and mist, and after touching down about 1,500 feet from the runway threshold, they applied the brakes and thrust reversers gradually due to the "slippery" condition of the runway. As the airplane approached the end of the runway, the crew applied full braking, but the airplane departed the end of the runway and came to rest on the side of an embankment. During the runway overrun the fuselage was substantially damaged. The flight crew reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N135LR](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N135LR-2023-04-01), registration cancelled 2023-04-01, S/N 068, built 1982 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Learjet 55 (Undesignat)
- Registry model: [Gates Learjet 55](https://openairdocs.org/model/gates-learjet-55) (registry code 5170702) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [AiResearch TFE731 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/airesearch-tfe731-series) (registry code 01518, turbo-jet) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 068
- Year built: 1982
- Airframe hours: 12792.3
- Engines: Garret TFG 731-3AR- 3800 lbs thrust turbo fan; Garret TFG 731-3AR-2 3800 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Northwest Aircraft Rental Inc, doing business as Upper Jets
- Registered owner: Expectra Aviation Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, November 18, 2019
- Departed: RIC, Richmond, VA
- Destination: BLM, Farmingdale, NJ
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: BLM, Monmouth Executive, runway 14, 7,345 × 85 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Stall warning system, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 13, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 18,288 total, 2,909.8 in this make and model, 8,713 as pilot in command
- Co-pilot; age 63; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 13, 2020; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 14,759 total, 1,978.9 in this make and model, 104.3 in the last 90 days, 35.5 in the last 30 days, 1.5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 120° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 600 ft broken
- Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 29.85 inHg
- Observed at: BLM

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 13, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101002. 2.5 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40482225&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Flightcrew Statements (item 2, .PDF, 268 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40482226&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Flightcrew%20Statements-Master.PDF
- Memorandum Of Record Pilot telephone interview (item 3, .PDF, 111 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40482227&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20Of%20Record%20Pilot%20telephone%20interview%20-Master.PDF
- Photo Array (item 4, .PDF, 714 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40482228&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20Array-Master.PDF

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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