NYC01FA214

While departing from the airport, with the second-in-command (SIC) at the controls, the airplane impacted a fence, and subsequently the ground about 1,000 feet beyond the departure end of the runway. A witness on the ramp area south of the runway, stated that he heard the engines spool up; however, due to the fog, he could only see the strobe lights on the airplane. He then observed the airplane rotate about 3,500 feet from the departure end of the runway and begin to climb at a steep angle, before losing sight of it when it was about 150 feet above ground level. The weather reported, at 0550 was, calm winds; 1/2 statute miles of visibility, fog; overcast cloud layer at 100 feet; temperature and dew point of 17 degrees Celsius. Excerpts of the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) transcript revealed that the flightcrew discussed the prevailing visibility at the airport on numerous occasions, and indicated that it appeared to be less than one mile. Examination of the wreckage revealed no anomalies with the airframe or engines. According to the FAA Instrument Flying Handbook, "Flying in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) can result in sensations that are misleading to the body's sensory system...A rapid acceleration, such as experienced during takeoff, stimulates the otolith organs in the same way as tilting the head backwards. This action creates the somatogravic illusion of being in a nose-up attitude, especially in situations without good visual references. The disoriented pilot may push the aircraft into a nose-low or dive attitude."

History of flight

On August 24, 2001, about 0542, eastern daylight time, a Learjet 25, N153TW, operated by Ameristar Jet Charter, Inc., was destroyed when it impacted terrain while departing from the Tompkins County Airport (ITH), Ithaca, New York. The certificated airline transport pilot and the commercial pilot were fatally injured. Night instrument meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 135 on-demand cargo flight, destined for the Jackson County-Reynolds Field, Jackson, Michigan.

The airplane had departed Newark International Airport (EWR), Newark, New Jersey, the morning of the accident, and arrived at Ithaca about 0430. The airplane was refueled with 100 gallons of Jet A, and about 400 pounds of cargo was loaded. The flight crew obtained an IFR release on the ground by radio, and departed from runway 32, with the second-in-command (SIC) at the controls.

A witness, who was walking on the ramp area south of the runway, stated that he heard the engines spool up; however, due to the fog, he could only see the strobe lights on the airplane. He then observed the airplane rotate near taxiway "Charlie," which was about 3,500 feet from the departure end of the runway. He observed the airplane begin to climb at a steep angle, before losing sight of it when it was about 150 feet above ground level. The witness added that as he continued walking, he heard a loud "bang," and felt a tremor, which he thought was a hangar door.

The airplane came to rest in a wooded area about 1/2 mile from the departure end of runway 32, about 10 feet to the right of the extended runway centerline.

Excerpts of the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) transcript revealed that the flightcrew discussed the prevailing visibility at the airport on numerous occasions, and indicated that it appeared to be less than one mile. At 0540:30, the pilot-in-command (PIC) transmitted on the common traffic advisory frequency that the flight was departing from runway 32. As the airplane was taxied onto the runway, the SIC stated "that's not a # mile. I can't even see the other end of the runway." The airplane departed, and at 0541:41, the PIC stated, "rotate," which was captured by the cockpit area mike (CAM) on the recording. At 0541:45, standard calls for "positive rate," "gear up," "yaw damper on," "plus thirty," and "flaps up, climb checklist," were captured by the CAM on the recording. At 0542:00, the word "I" followed by a sound similar to the ground impact was recorded by the CAM. The recording ended at 0542:01.

The accident occurred during the hours of darkness, at 42 degrees, 30.08 minutes north, 76 degrees, 28.40 minutes west, at an elevation of 1,104 feet msl.

Flightcrew information

Pilot-in-Command

The PIC held an airline transport certificate with a rating for airplane multi-engine land, and commercial privileges for airplane single-engine land. In addition, the PIC was type rated in the Learjet (LR-JET) and Dassault DA-20.

A review of company records revealed that the PIC had accumulated about 4,826 hours of total flying experience, of which, 760 hours were in Learjet 24 and 25 models.

The PIC's most recent FAA first class medical certificate was issued on April 30, 2001.

The PIC attended and successfully completed LR-JET recurrent training at Simuflite, on October 24, 2000.

Second-in-Command

The SIC held a commercial pilot's certificate with ratings for airplane single engine, multi-engine land, instrument airplane.

A review of company records revealed that the SIC had accumulated about 3,534 hours of total flying experience, of which, about 430 hours were in Learjet 24 and 25 models.

The SIC's most recent FAA first class medical certificate was issued on September 5, 2000.

Aircraft information

According to the operator's records, the airplane was maintained on an approved inspection program, and had accumulated 12,485.8 total airframe hours. The left engine had 7,103.7 hours of total time since overhaul, and 883 hours since its last inspection. The right engine had 10,465.8 hours of total time, 7,497.4 hours since overhaul, and 1,012.5 hours since its last inspection.

The airplane was equipped with an electrically driven horizontal stabilizer, which was operated by a "high hat" control button, installed on the pilot's yoke, which activated the electrically driven horizontal stabilizer trim motor.

Meteorological information

The weather reported by a certified meteorologist, at 0550 was, calm winds; 1/2 statute mile visibility, fog; overcast cloud layer at 100 feet; temperature and dew point of 62 degrees Fahrenheit; and an altimeter setting of 30.05 inches of mercury.

Airport information

Runway 32 was a 6,601-foot-long, 150-foot-wide, hard surfaced asphalt runway. The runway was illuminated by pilot-controlled high intensity runway lighting when the control tower was inoperative. The runway was not equipped with centerline lighting.

Flight recorders

Cockpit Voice Recorder

The airplane was equipped with a B&D Instruments and Avionics CVR. The CVR was transported to the Safety Board, Office of Research and Engineering, on September 6, 2001. The CVR group convened on October 2, 2001. A transcript was prepared for the last 7 minutes and 51 seconds of the 32-minute recording.

Wreckage and impact information

The airplane impacted an airport fence located about 1,000 feet beyond the departure end of runway 32. There were no ground scars or airplane wreckage observed on the runway surface, or the grass area leading from the approach end of the runway to the fence. Examination of a 60-foot section of the fence revealed that four vertical poles were sheared near ground level and displayed blue paint transfer on their surfaces. The damage to the farthest pole to the left was measured at 32 inches from the ground, and the damage to the pole farthest to the right was measured at 63 inches above the ground. The chain-link portion of the fence, and the upper support rail, were missing.

Beginning at the base area of the fence, was a winding 1-foot wide path of burned grass, which continued forward for about 30 feet to a county road.

Ground scars began about 25 feet beyond the perimeter fence on the shoulder of the road. The ground scars contained blue paint chips, blue paint transfer on stones, and pieces of aluminum aircraft skin. Additional airplane parts and jet fuel were observed on the road.

The debris path continued forward into a grass field, oriented on a 320-degree bearing. Items located in the field included: sections of the left and right wing tip fuel tanks, a 4-foot section of the right flap, the bottom section of the left engine nacelle cover, two vertical fence posts, a section of the fence upper support rail, two sections of chain link fence, sheet metal from the center belly area of the airplane, and sheet metal from both wings.

No impact marks were observed in the field, except for an area of dirt, about 1-foot in diameter, and 800 feet from the two sections of fence, which contained blue paint transfer on the surface. About 5 feet beyond the impact mark was a forward tip tank section. A 2-foot wide, 70-foot long, trail of burnt grass was also observed in the field.

About 900 feet from the fence, on the shoulder of a second road, ground scars containing blue paint chips, blue paint transfer on stones, and pieces of aluminum aircraft skin were observed. Blue and white colored paint transfer scars, additional airplane parts, and jet fuel were also observed on the crowned asphalt road.

The debris path continued into a wooded area, which consisted of low-lying brush, and hardwood trees, that reached a height of about 40 feet. The width of the wreckage path swath through the brush and trees was about 8 feet. Two of the hardwood trees were sheared off about 15 feet above the grou