MKC84LA043

NTSB accident investigation · Gates Learjet 25 · Kansas City, KS · December 21, 1983

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
December 21, 1983, 02:14 local (08:14 UTC)
Place
Kansas City, KS
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Takeoff
Aircraft
N242AGGates Learjet 25
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
Status
Completed
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19831221063009A
Case key
33606

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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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 - on ground/waterTakeoff - roll/run
Light condition - dark nightFactor
Weather condition - snowFactor
Weather condition - fogFactor
Weather condition - crosswindFactor
Control tower - not operating
Airport snow removal - not identified
Weather condition - temperature extremesFactor
Fluid,oil - pressure excessive
Proper alignment - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Diverted attentionPilot in commandCause
Airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - snow coveredFactor
Airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - icyFactor
Ground loop/swerve - uncontrolledPilot in command
On ground/water encounter with terrain/waterTakeoff
Aborted takeoff - performedPilot in command
Terrain condition - snow coveredFactor

Analysis

During takeoff on a snow covered rwy at night the aircraft ran off the left side of the runway & was damaged. At that time, the rwy was covered with a thin layer of dry snow over the top of hard packed snow. A 50 ft strip had previously been plowed along the 150 ft wide rwy. However, the tower was closed & no snow removal was permitted after 2400 CST. The plt reported that he was concerned about the oil pressure after starting in cold wx. As he applied takeoff power, he glanced at the eng instruments, oil pressure & temp in particular. He stated that he 'had just gone visually outside' when the copilot said 'watch yourself.' At that point, the acft was angling to the left. The plt kept the nose wheel steering engaged & applied right rudder, but was unable to maintain rwy alignment. He reported the left main gear was in 3 inches of snow while the right gear was in 1 inch of snow and this increased drag to the left. The plt believed that improper snow removal was the 'sole reason.' Other acft landed & departed without major difficulty.

Aircraft

Registration
N242AG
Reported as
Gates Learjet 25
Category
Airplane
Serial number
025
Airframe hours
9,131
Engine
GE CJ6110-6, 2,960 lbs thrust, turbo jet
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Part 135
Operator
Central Air Charter, Inc.
Registered owner
Ges R&D Inc.
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Continuous airworthiness · November 14, 1983 · 85 hours before
Destination
DAL · Dallas, TX
Flight plan
IFR
Airport
KCK · Fairfax Municipal, runway 17, 7,301 × 150 ft, asphalt

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
25
Certificate
Airline transport
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Left
Flight hours
4,919 total · 1,900 in this make and model · 4,650 as pilot in command · 380 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
Wind
270° at 7 knots
Visibility
4 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
1,500 ft overcast
Temperature
10 °F, dew point 9 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
MKC, 2 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.