# NTSB NYC78FA014: Learjet 35, N971H, Groton, CT, December 14, 1977

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: December 14, 1977
- Place: Groton, CT · GROTON, CT
- Location: 41.3249° N, 72.0669° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Groton, CT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.3249&lon=-72.0669&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 24, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 144376
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC78FA014
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC78FA014

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3227  77/12/14   GROTON,CT           LEARJET 35          CR-  0  0  2  NONCOMMERCIAL             ATP,FLIGHT INSTR., AGE
        TIME - 1934                    N971H               PX-  0  0  1  CORP/EXEC                 30, 5400 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            1500 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - TRUMBULL FIELD
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          NEW YORK,NY                 GROTON,CT
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           WEATHER - WIND SHEAR
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY WEATHER BUREAU PERSONNEL, IN PERSON
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OBSCURATION                                               600
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1 MILE OR LESS                                           RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
          FOG                                                      220
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           18                                                      BELOW MINIMUMS
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: N971H (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: LEARJET 35
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: turbo jet
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Trumbull Field

## 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 19771214040879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19771214040879A), Dec 14, 1977: Lear 35A, Groton, CT, Substantial damage

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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