- Date
- February 29, 2020, 12:35 local (17:35 UTC)
- Place
- Altoona, PA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N721ECLearjet 35
- Defining event
- Approach-VFR go-around: Abnormal runway contact
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 21, 2020
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA/ FSDO
- FAA report
- 20200229022279A
- Case key
- 101041
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot flying's improper lateral bank control during a go-around in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in the left-wing tip tank striking the runway.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The flight crew reported that, after an instrument landing system approach and during the landing flare, the airplane encountered a strong wind gust that pushed the airplane toward the edge of the runway, so they initiated a go-around. During the go-around, the left-wing tip tank struck the runway. The flight crew diverted to another airport where the weather conditions were more favorable, and after landing, examination of the airplane revealed that the left wing had sustained substantial damage. The calculated crosswind component was 18 knots at the time of landing. According to the Airplane Flight Manual, the maximum demonstrated crosswind component was 24.7 knots.
Factual narrative
The flight crew reported that after an instrument landing system approach, during the landing flare the airplane encountered a strong wind gust and a go-around was initiated. During the go-around, the left tip tank struck the runway causing substantial damage to the left wing. The flight crew diverted to another airport where the weather conditions were more favorable, and upon landing, the damage to the left wing was discovered.About the time of the accident, the airport weather observation included wind from a heading of 300° at 15 knots, gusting to 20 knots. The calculated crosswind component was 18 knots. According to the airplane flight manual, the maximum demonstrated crosswind component was 24.7 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N721EC
- Reported as
- Learjet 35 (A)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 355
- Built
- 1980
- Airframe hours
- 14,859
- Engines
- Honeywell TFE731-2C-2B, 3,500 lbs thrust, turbo fanHoneywell TFE731-2C-2B, 3,500 lbs thrust, turbo fan
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning · Part 91
- Operator
- East Coast Jets Inc
- Registered owner
- East Coast Jets Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Transport
- Last inspection
- Continuous airworthiness · August 22, 2019
- Departed
- ABE · Allentown, PA
- Destination
- AOO · Altoona, PA
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- AOO · Altoona-Blair County, runway 21, 5,465 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- Stall warning system, Satellite tracking device, Onboard weather, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, ADS-B, Angle of attack indicator, Auto-pilot
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 · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 57
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Airline transport, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- October 11, 2019
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 6,240 total · 1,750 in this make and model · 5,495 as pilot in command · 114 in the last 90 days · 79 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Co-pilot
- Age
- 70
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- August 30, 2019
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 33,000 total · 3,750 in this make and model · 26,210 as pilot in command · 50 in the last 90 days · 19 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Wind
- 300° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Lowest ceiling
- 1,600 ft broken
- Temperature
- 25 °F, dew point 16 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.93 inHg
- Observed at
- AOO
Docket · 4
The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 31, 2020, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 5.5 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.