Crash of a Learjet 25B in Sanford: 5 killed

Date & Time: Sep 8, 1977 at 2020 LT
Type of aircraft:
Learjet 25
Operator:
Registration:
N999HG
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Sanford - Flint
MSN:
25-178
YOM:
1974
Location:
Sanford
North Carolina
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Captain / Total flying hours:
9364
Aircraft flight hours:
700
Circumstances:
About 2020 EST, on September 8, 1977, Champion Home Builders Company, Gates Learjet 25B, N999HG, crashed shortly after takeoff at Sanford, North Carolina. All five persons aboard were killed, and the aircraft was destroyed. The aircraft departed Sanford Airport about 2018 EST, for a flight to Flint, Michigan. In accordance with departure instructions from Fayetteville departure control, the flight was about 3 mi west of the airport, climbing through 3,000 ft, on a heading of 270°, when it disappeared from radar. There were no distress calls, but several witnesses west of the airport saw the aircraft on fire below the 600 feet suddenly dove to the ground. People in the immediate vicinity reported that the overcast ceiling. The flight completed a right turn to a northeasterly heading and aircraft was on fire before it crashed.
Probable cause:
The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was one or more low-order explosions in the aircraft's aft fuselage determine conclusively the fuel and ignition sources of the initial explosion; which resulted in a fire and loss of control capability. The Safety Board could not however, gases from the aircraft's batteries or fuel leakage from fuel system components, or both, could have been present in the area of the initial explosion.
Final Report:

Crash of a Learjet 25B in Detroit

Date & Time: May 26, 1977 at 0940 LT
Type of aircraft:
Learjet 25
Operator:
Registration:
N501PS
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Detroit - Detroit
MSN:
25-153
YOM:
1974
Location:
Detroit-Metropolitan-Wayne County
Michigan
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
9291
Captain / Total hours on type:
218.00
Circumstances:
The crew departed Detroit-Ypsilanti Airport on a positioning (exec) flight to Detroit-Wayne County Airport. After touchdown on runway 33, the airplane encountered difficulties to decelerate. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, it overran, struck a fence and came to rest in flames against a concrete pole located 950 feet further. Both pilots were injured and the airplane was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Inadequate preflight preparation on part of the pilot-in-command caused the airplane to ran off the end of the runway. The thrust reversers were found in stowed position.
Final Report:

Crash of a Learjet 25B near Sarajevo: 8 killed

Date & Time: Jan 18, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Learjet 25
Operator:
Yugoslav Government
Registration:
YU-BJH
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Government
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Batajnica - Sarajevo
MSN:
25-186
YOM:
1975
Flight number:
YU001
Location:
Sarajevo
East Herzegovina
Country:
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Batajnica Airbase under callsign YU001 bound for Sarajevo, carrying the Yugoslav Prime Minister Džemal Bijedić, his wife Razija and several members of his cabinet. While descending to Sarajevo-Butmir Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions. Following a wrong approach configuration, the aircraft struck the slope of Mt Inač (1,366 metres high) located near the village of Kreševo, about 30 km northwest of the airport. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all eight occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was the consequence of a controlled flight into terrain caused by several errors on part of the crew, among them the following:
- The last turn was completed 2,7 NM further than prescribed,
- The airplane was approaching at an insufficient altitude to clear terrain,
- Its speed was in excess of 37 knots at impact,
- Lack of visibility caused by poor weather.

Crash of a Learjet 25B off Rio de Janeiro

Date & Time: Nov 12, 1976
Type of aircraft:
Learjet 25
Operator:
Registration:
PT-DVL
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
São Paulo – Rio de Janeiro
MSN:
25-077
YOM:
1971
Location:
Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont
Rio de Janeiro
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While descending to Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances into the Guanabara Bay. All five occupants were rescued while the aircraft sank and was lost.

Crash of a Learjet 25C in Campinas: 7 killed

Date & Time: Sep 26, 1976 at 2000 LT
Type of aircraft:
Learjet 25
Operator:
Servicios Pecas de Aviones
Registration:
PT-IBR
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Manaus – São Paulo
MSN:
25-072
YOM:
1972
Location:
Campinas-Viracopos
São Paulo
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Manaus-Eduardo Gomes Airport in the afternoon on a flight to São Paulo-Congonhas Airport. En route, the crew was informed about the deterioration of weather conditions at destination and was vectored to Campinas-Viracopos Airport. On final approach by night, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane struck trees and crashed in an eucalyptus plantation located 2 km short of runway 14. The wreckage was found at 0700LT the following day. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all seven occupants were killed, among them five top managers from the Brazilian Mercedes Benz Branch.
Crew:
Jorge Casara, pilot,
Hugo Fernandes Rosa, copilot.
Passengers:
Friedrich Karl Binder,
Wilhelm Künkele,
Karl-Heinz Eisenmenger,
Willy Weltzer,
Helmut Surkemper.

Crash of a Learjet 25B in Richmond

Date & Time: Jul 3, 1975 at 0756 LT
Type of aircraft:
Learjet 25
Operator:
South Central Aviation
Registration:
N428JX
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Toledo – Richmond – Farmingdale
MSN:
25-103
YOM:
1973
Location:
Richmond
Indiana
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
6800
Captain / Total hours on type:
1600.00
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll at Richmond Airport, the captain decided to abandon the takeoff procedure and started an emergency braking manoeuvre. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran and collided with trees at full power. The aircraft was destroyed while all eight occupants escaped with minor injuries.
Probable cause:
Aborted takeoff after spontaneous and improper actions on part of the copilot. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Collision with trees,
- Improper operation of powerplant and powerplant controls on part of the copilot,
- Inadequate supervision of flight from the pilot-in-command,
- Both engines at or near takeoff power at impact.
Final Report:

Crash of a Learjet 25B in Briggsdale: 4 killed

Date & Time: Aug 31, 1974 at 1250 LT
Type of aircraft:
Learjet 25
Operator:
Alpine Aircraft Charters
Registration:
N366AA
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Denver - Denver
MSN:
25-151
YOM:
1974
Location:
Briggsdale
Colorado
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Captain / Total flying hours:
9323
Captain / Total hours on type:
161.00
Circumstances:
The crew (an instructor and three student pilots) departed Denver Airport in the morning for a local training flight. While cruising at an altitude of 17,400 feet, the instructor decided to introduce a runaway trim emergency to the student pilot who was on his 4th lesson on type of aircraft. The airplane entered a 20-40° nose-down attitude then crashed in a huge explosion in a field. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all four occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Uncontrolled descent after the crew was unable to retrim the aircraft for undetermined reason. Unusual attitude practice with full nose down trim.
Final Report:

Crash of a Learjet 25 in Lincoln: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 25, 1973 at 0618 LT
Type of aircraft:
Learjet 25
Operator:
Lisa Jet
Registration:
N40LB
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Lincoln - Omaha
MSN:
25-009
YOM:
1968
Location:
Lincoln
Nebraska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
2690
Circumstances:
The takeoff from Lincoln Airport was initiated in low ceiling and fog. Just after liftoff, the twin engine airplane went out of control and crashed. The aircraft was destroyed and all three occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control in initial climb following an inadequate preflight preparation on part of the crew. The following factors were reported:
- Low ceiling and fog,
- Poor crew coordination,
- The pilot-in-command was rated in this model the previous day.
Final Report:

Crash of a Learjet 25B off Antibes: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 18, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Learjet 25
Operator:
Registration:
SX-ASO
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Athens - Nice
MSN:
25-074
YOM:
1971
Location:
Antibes
Alpes-Maritimes
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
On final approach to Nice-Côte d'Azur Airport, while on a positioning flight from Athens-Ellinikon Airport, the airplane went out of control and crashed into the sea off Antibes. Both crew members were killed.

Crash of a Learjet 25 in Victoria: 9 killed

Date & Time: Jan 18, 1972 at 0745 LT
Type of aircraft:
Learjet 25
Operator:
Tandy Corporation
Registration:
N658TC
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Fort Worth - Victoria
MSN:
25-044
YOM:
1969
Location:
Victoria
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Captain / Total flying hours:
15500
Circumstances:
During a non precision approach to Victoria County-Foster Airport, the crew encountered marginal weather conditions with fog. On short final, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane struck a pole located 1,7 mile short of runway 12L. The aircraft crashed in a field and was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire. All nine occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Improper IFR operation on part of the crew. The following factors were reported:
- The pilot-in-command misjudged altitude,
- Low ceiling and fog,
- Weather conditions below minimums,
- Lack of altitude awareness of crew on descent into known poor visibility,
- Illusory effect present due to the combination of fog and sun.
Final Report:
Subscribe to Learjet 25