# NTSB FTW90FA100: Learjet 25D, Uvalde, TX, April 26, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: April 25, 1990, 21:55 local (Apr 26, 1990, 02:55 UTC)
- Place: Uvalde, TX
- Coordinates: 29.210912, -99.780136 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.2109&lon=-99.7801&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 9 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 12, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23020
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW90FA100
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23020/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW90FA100

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO OBTAIN A PRE-FLIGHT WEATHER BRIEFING, AND HIS IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION, WHICH RESULTED IN AN IN-FLIGHT ENCOUNTER WITH SEVERE WEATHER AND SUBSEQUENT ENGINE FLAMEOUTS.  FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: DARKNESS, THE SEVERE WEATHER CONDITIONS, AND ROUGH/UNEVEN TERRAIN IN THE FORCED LANDING AREA.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - thunderstorm (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - turbulence(thunderstorms) (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - hail (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise
  - 1 engine
  - initiated, pilot in command
- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, descent
  - all engines
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE FLT CREW ENCTRD SVR TURBC IN CRUISE FLT AT FL410, OVER A VIP LVL 4 TO 5 THUNDERSTORM. THE #2 ENG FLAMED OUT, THOUGH CONTINUOUS IGNITION HAD BEEN SELECTED. AFTER THE FLAME-OUT, THE ACFT STARTED TO DSCND & THE CREW BGN TO DIVERT TO A NRBY ARPT. DRG THE DSCNT, THE ACFT ENCTRD LARGE HAIL, HVY RAIN, SVR TURBC, LIGHTNING & ST ELMOS FIRE. THE OTR ENG FLAMED OUT AS THE ACFT WAS DSCNDG THRU FL330 (PRESUMABLY DUE TO HAIL & WATER INGESTION). ATTEMPTED AIR STARTS (BOTH WINDMILLING & STARTER ASSISTED) WERE UNSUCCESSFUL; INTERIOR LGTS BCM EXTREMELY DIM DRG STARTER ASSISTED ATMTS. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT WAS DMGD DRG A LNDG IN A WHEAT FLD. INV REVEALED THE CREW DID NOT RCV A WX BRIEFING BFR THE FLT. THERE WAS A CONVECTIVE SIGMET (6C) & AN ALERT WX WARNING (AWW 163), WHICH WERE ACTIVE FOR THE AREA. ACCORDING TO A WX STUDY, THERE WAS A SVR THUNDERSTORM, TOPPED AT OR NR FL410, MDT TO SVR UP/DWNDFTS, LARGE HAIL, HVY RAIN, STRONG WIND GUSTS, AND AIRFRAME ICING ABV 12,000' MSL. ALL FRONTAL AREAS OF THE ACFT RCVD MDT TO SVR HAIL DMG.

## Aircraft

- Registration: XAROZ (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Learjet 25D
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 286
- Airframe hours: 2953
- Engines: GE CJ610-8A 2950 lbs thrust turbo jet
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Internacionales De Torreon
- Registered owner: Aero Transportes Intl'S
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Departed: LBB, LUBBOCK, TX
- Destination: MMTC, TORREON
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: UVA, Garner Field

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; foreign, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 5,746 total, 200 in this make and model, 5,550 as pilot in command, 82 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 40° at 22 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: DLF, 50 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.

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