What happened
On a scheduled instrument flight rules (IFR) flight from Grand Rapids, Michigan, to Stephenville, Newfoundland, the Learjet L36A registered as N14TX was conducting an approach to runway 28. During the descent, the co-pilot communicated with the St. John's Flight Service Station (FSS) to provide their intentions and receive the most recent weather and runway surface updates. The FSS specialist instructed the crew to notify the station once the aircraft had successfully landed.
Following the approach, the aircraft failed to make the required landing notification. This prompted the St. John's FSS specialist to notify the Gander Area Control Centre (ACC) that the flight was overdue, triggering an immediate search operation. Search teams were initially unable to utilize the aircraft's final radar position due to missing data.
Approximately three hours and ten minutes after the aircraft was declared missing, investigators located the wreckage within the perimeter of the Stephenville airport, near the last known radar contact. The aircraft had impacted a service road embankment while in an inverted, wings-level orientation. The accident took place during the night at roughly 0238 NST. The two fatalities involved were both members of the flight crew.
Findings
- The aircraft struck an embankment in an inverted position.
- The crash occurred during the hours of darkness.