2 fatalities

15 May 2017: LEARJET 35A (N452DA) — Trans-Pacific Jets — Teterboro, NJ

Teterboro, NJ, United States

On 15 May 2017, a LEARJET 35A (registration N452DA) operated by Trans-Pacific Jets was involved in an aviation accident near Teterboro, NJ. 2 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot-in-command's (PIC) attempt to salvage an unstabilized visual approach, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall at low altitude. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

On May 15, 2017, a Learjet 35A (N452DA) departed controlled flight during a circling approach to Runway 1 at Teterboro Airport and impacted a commercial building and parking lot. Both pilots died; no ground injuries. The aircraft was destroyed.

Incident Overview

On May 15, 2017, about 1529 eastern daylight time, a Learjet 35A, registration N452DA, departed controlled flight while conducting a circling approach to Runway 1 at Teterboro Airport (TEB), Teterboro, New Jersey. The airplane subsequently impacted a commercial building and parking lot. The pilot-in-command and the second-in-command died; no injuries were reported among persons on the ground. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a postcrash fire.

Flight Details

The airplane was registered to A&C Big Sky Aviation, LLC and operated by Trans-Pacific Air Charter, LLC under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a positioning flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and an instrument flight rules flight plan had been filed. The flight originated from Philadelphia International Airport, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, departing about 1504, and was destined for Teterboro Airport.

Aircraft Information

The Learjet 35A, serial number not specified in the source, sustained catastrophic damage. The accident site included the commercial building and parking lot where the aircraft came to rest.

Investigation

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigated the accident and published a final report, number NTSB/AAR-19/02, available on their website. The probable cause of the accident is not provided in the source excerpt.

Contributing factors

Capability exceededPilotFlight crewOperatorFAA/Regulator