Crash of a Learjet 35A in Panama City
Date & Time:
Jul 19, 2015 at 1135 LT
Registration:
YV543T
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Caracas – Panama City
MSN:
35-246
YOM:
1979
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Caracas-Maiquetia-Simon Bolivar Airport, the crew initiated the descent to Panama City-Tocumen Airport. After a normal approach, the airplane landed with the landing gear still retracted and slid on a distance of 987 metres before coming to rest on the main runway. Both pilots escaped uninjured and the airplane was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The reason the aircraft landed without the landing gear deployed is attributed to human error for not having activated the deployment lever, and for failing to observe the frequency and transit lights of the deployment and confirm their locking.
Final Report:
