No fatalities

Airplane Strikes Runway During Go-Around After Glideslope Deviation (N800AW)

Utica, NY, US

On March 19, 2004, a Gates Learjet 35A (registration N800AW) was involved in an aviation accident near Utica, NY. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The copilot's failure to maintain airspeed, and the captain's delayed remedial action, which resulted in an inadvertent stall and the subsequent hard landing. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 2 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-07-04Data APIEditorial standards
Aircraft registered N800AW
Aircraft registered N800AW. Photo: Aeroprints.com / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

During an ILS approach, the copilot flying at Vref+10 knots. The airplane drifted high on the glideslope, leading to reduced power and excessive sink rate. A go-around was attempted but the aircraft impacted the runway before engines could spool up, coming to rest in snow beside the runway.

Flight Sequence

The approach was flown by the copilot, with the aircraft's speed set at Vref plus 10 knots. The captain visually acquired the runway at approximately 350 feet above ground level.

Approach Deviation

Subsequently, the aircraft climbed above the glideslope, prompting the copilot to reduce thrust. This led to an excessive descent rate.

Go-Around Attempt

When the captain called for a go-around, the airspeed had already decayed and the stick shaker had activated. Despite adding power for the go-around, the engines did not spool up sufficiently before the airplane struck the runway in a level attitude.

Final Position

The aircraft came to a stop in snow about 20 feet left of the runway, near the midfield area.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 19 Mar 2004 Gates Learjet 35A accident near Utica, NY?

During an ILS approach, the copilot flying at Vref+10 knots. The airplane drifted high on the glideslope, leading to reduced power and excessive sink rate. A go-around was attempted but the aircraft impacted the runway before engines could spool up, coming to rest in snow beside the runway.

Were there any fatalities in the 19 Mar 2004 Gates Learjet 35A accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 19 Mar 2004 involved a Gates Learjet 35A, registration N800AW, at Utica, NY.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The copilot's failure to maintain airspeed, and the captain's delayed remedial action, which resulted in an inadvertent stall and the subsequent hard landing.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20040323X00356. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.