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Casualties unknown

2001-03-30: Grumman GULFSTREAM III (N303GA) — Avjet Corp — Aspen, CO

Aspen, CO, US

On March 30, 2001, a Grumman GULFSTREAM III (registration N303GA) operated by Avjet Corp was involved in an aviation accident near Aspen, CO. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: the flight crew's operation of the airplane below the minimum descent altitude without an appropriate visual reference for the runway. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 1781061362Data APIEditorial standards
Aircraft registered N303GA
Aircraft registered N303GA. Photo: Steve Knight / CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

A Gulfstream III charter flight crashed into sloping terrain short of the runway threshold during its final approach to Aspen, Colorado.

What happened

On March 29, 2001, at approximately 1901:57 mountain standard time, a Gulfstream III, registration N303GA, crashed while performing a final approach to runway 15 at Aspen-Pitkin County Airport (ASE) in Aspen, Colorado.

The aircraft was operating as a charter flight under 14 CFR Part 135, having departed Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) at approximately 1711. On board the flight were two pilots, one flight attendant, and 15 passengers.

During the approach, the airplane struck sloping terrain located roughly 2,400 feet before reaching the runway threshold. The impact resulted in 18 fatalities, as all passengers and crewmembers were killed. The aircraft was destroyed in the accident.

Controlled flight into terrain

More accident analyses

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20010412X00738. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.