# NTSB MKC88MA134: Learjet 35A, N442NE, Morristown, NJ, July 26, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Major investigation · Final report
- Date: July 26, 1988, 07:40 local (11:40 UTC)
- Place: Morristown, NJ
- Location: 40.7993° N, 74.4149° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at MORRISTOWN MUNI (MMU), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7993&lon=-74.4149&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report June 25, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 34649
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC88MA134
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/34649/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC88MA134

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - flight controls - improper use of, copilot/second pilot (cause)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, copilot/second pilot
  - inadequate recurrent training, copilot/second pilot (contributing factor)
  - inadequate surveillance of operation, faa(organization) (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - improper, copilot/second pilot (contributing factor)
  - proper descent rate - exceeded, copilot/second pilot (contributing factor)
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - interpersonal relations, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - insufficient standards/requirements,airman, company/operator mgmt
- In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)

## Analysis

THE CREW WAS POSITIONING THE AIRCRAFT IN PREPARATION FOR A REVENUE FLIGHT AND EXECUTING A NON-DIRECTIONAL BEACON (NDB) APCH TO RWY 05. THE CAPTAIN REPORTED THAT THE COPILOT WAS FLYING THE ACFT. HOWEVER, THE CAPT STATED THAT HE TOOK CONTROLOF THE ACFT DURING THE APCH AND MADE SOME CONTROL CORRECTIONS BEFORE RETURNING CONTROL OF THE ACFT TO THE COPILOT. RADARDATA INDICATED THAT ACFT CONTROL WAS ERRATIC THROUGHOUT THE APCH AND THAT THE AIRSPEED AND DESCENT RATES WERE HIGH (3000 FPM SINK RATE) SHORTLY BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. THE ACFT STRUCK A FENCE SHORT OF THE RWY AND IMPACTED THE GROUND. THE CAPT SAID HE REALIZED THE ACFT WAS DRIFTING LEFT OF COURSE BUT DID NOT CORRECT IT. HE SAID HE TOLD THE COPILOT TO ADD POWER TWICE DURING THE APCH. THE COPILOT'S TRAINING HISTORY INDICATED DIFFICULTY IN CONTROL, SCAN OF INSTRUMENTS, AND WITH INSTRUMENT PROCEDURES. COMPANY MANAGEMENT DESCRIBED THE CAPT AS PASSIVE AND THE COPILOT AS AGGRESSIVE. SUPERVISION OF TNG AND OPERATIONS BY MANAGEMENT AND SURVEILLANCE OF THE COMPANY BY THE FAA WAS CONSIDERED INADEQUATE BY NTSB.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N442NE](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N442NE-1988-08-19), registration cancelled 1988-08-19, S/N 442 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: LEARJET 35A
- Registry model: [Gates Learjet 35A](https://openairdocs.org/model/gates-learjet-35a) (registry code 5170602) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 442
- Airframe hours: 4274
- Engines: GARRETT TFE-731-22B 3500 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Registered owner: Northeast Jet Company
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: AAIP, June 29, 1988, 72 hours before
- Departed: ABE, ALLENTOWN, PA
- Destination: MMU, MORRISTOWN, NJ
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: MMU, Morristown, runway 5, 5,999 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; toxicology performed; flight hours: 4,810 total, 2,100 in this make and model, 3,010 as pilot in command, 159 in the last 90 days, 53 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: MMU, 1 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19880726028009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880726028009A), Jul 26, 1988: Lear 35A, Morristown, NJ, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Erratic approach. High sink. Hit fence short of runway and impacted ground. Inadequate ops supervision and by FAA.

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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