# NTSB FTW72AF044: Gates Lear 25, N658TC, Victoria, TX, January 18, 1972

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: January 18, 1972
- Place: Victoria, TX · VICTORIA, TX
- Location: 28.8053° N, 97.0036° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Victoria, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.8053&lon=-97.0036&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 9 fatal
- Status: Completed, report October 13, 1972
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 79894
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW72AF044
- Board report AAR7224 (PDF): https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/AAR7224.pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW72AF044

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0003  72/1/18    VICTORIA,TEX        GATES LEAR 25       CR-  2  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 52, 15500
        TIME - 0745                    N658TC              PX-  7  0  0  CORP/EXEC                 TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - VICTORIA COUNTY
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IFR OPERATION
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED ALTITUDE
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY RADIO
        WEATHER FORECAST - WEATHER SLIGHTLY WORSE THAN FORECAST
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          PARTIAL OBSCURATION                                       2800
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1/4 MILE OR LESS                                         NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       58
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          BELOW MINIMUMS                                           IFR
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- LACK OF ALT AWARENESS OF CREW ON DESCENT INTO KNOWN POOR VIS.ILLUSORY EFFECT PRESENT DUE FOG,SUN.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N658TC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N658TC-1972-04-03), registration cancelled 1972-04-03, S/N 044 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GATES LEAR 25
- Registry model: [Learjet 25](https://openairdocs.org/model/learjet-25) (registry code 5170506) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: turbo jet
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Victoria County

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; 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.