- Date
- March 19, 2004, 06:45 local (11:45 UTC)
- Place
- Utica, NY
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N800AWGates Learjet 35A
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 3, 2004
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA FSDO-01
- FAA report
- 20040319003279A
- Case key
- 58928
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The copilot's failure to maintain airspeed, and the captain's delayed remedial action, which resulted in an inadvertent stall and the subsequent hard landing.
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.
Analysis
The copilot was flying an ILS approach at an airspeed of Vref plus 10 knots, and the captain made visual contact with the runway about 350 feet agl. The airplane then drifted high on the glideslope, and the copilot decreased engine power. The sink rate subsequently became too great. By the time the captain called for a go-around, the airspeed had deteriorated, and the stick shaker activated. Although power was applied for the go-around, the airplane impacted the runway in a level attitude before the engines spooled up. The airplane came to rest in snow, about 20 feet off the left side of the runway, near mid-field.
Factual narrative
On March 19, 2004, about 0645 eastern standard time, a Gates Learjet 35A, N800AW, was substantially damaged while landing at Oneida County Airport (UCA), Utica, New York. The certificated airline transport pilot and certificated commercial pilot were not injured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight that departed Port Columbus International Airport, Columbus, Ohio. An instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the air taxi cargo flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 135.
The copilot reported that he was the pilot flying the airplane at the time of the accident. The copilot utilized the ILS approach to runway 33, which was 6,002 feet long and 150 feet wide. The airplane was too high during the approach, and the copilot decreased engine power. The sink rate then became too great, and the flightcrew initiated a go-around. However, the airplane landed hard on the runway before the engines could spool up. The airplane subsequently came to rest in snow, about 20 feet off the left side of the runway, near mid-field.
The captain stated that the ILS approach was normal, with an airspeed of Vref plus 10 knots. He made visual contact with the runway about 350 feet agl. However, about 200 to 250 feet agl, with the runway in sight, the airplane drifted high on the glideslope. By the time the captain called for a go-around, the airspeed had deteriorated and the stick shaker activated. Although power was applied for the go-around, the airplane impacted the runway in a level attitude. After the impact, the engines spooled up. The thrust levers were then positioned to idle and the airplane skidded off the left side of the runway.
During the landing, the airplane sustained damage to the main landing gear and both wings. The flightcrew did not report any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane.
The captain reported a total flight experience of 5,903 hours; of which, 2,036 hours were in the same make and model as the accident airplane. The copilot reported a total flight experience of approximately 3,956 hours; of which, 504 hours were in the same make and model as the accident airplane.
The reported weather at UCA, at 0656, was: wind from 060 degrees at 3 knots; visibility 9 miles; ceiling 200 feet overcast; temperature 19 degrees F; dew point 18 degrees F; altimeter 30.26 inches Hg.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N800AW
- Reported as
- Gates Learjet 35A
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 35A-149
- Airframe hours
- 15,331.4
- Engines
- Garrett TFE731-2-2C, 3,500 lbs thrust, turbo fanGarrett TFE731-2-2C, 3,500 lbs thrust, turbo fan
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 135
- Registered owner
- Airnet Systems Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Transport
- Last inspection
- AAIP · March 17, 2004 · 11.3 hours before
- Departed
- CMH · Columbus, OH
- Destination
- UCA · Utica, NY
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- UCA · Oneida County Airport, runway 33, 6,002 × 150 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 26
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Last flight review
- January 9, 2004
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 5,903 total · 2,036 in this make and model · 4,506 as pilot in command · 229 in the last 90 days · 93 in the last 30 days · 6 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Co-pilot
- Age
- 29
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Last flight review
- September 16, 2003
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 3,956 total · 504 in this make and model · 3,397 as pilot in command · 229 in the last 90 days · 93 in the last 30 days · 6 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Wind
- 60° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 9 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 200 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 19 °F, dew point 18 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.26 inHg
- Observed at
- UCA
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.