Accident
On September 19, 2008, at approximately 2353 eastern daylight time, a Bombardier Learjet Model 60, registration N999LJ, departed the runway environment during a rejected takeoff on runway 11 at Columbia Metropolitan Airport in Columbia, South Carolina. The aircraft was owned by Inter Travel and Services, Inc. and operated by Global Exec Aviation. The captain, first officer, and two passengers were killed; two other passengers sustained serious injuries. The two surviving passengers, DJ AM and Travis Barker of the rock band Blink, were admitted to a local hospital for treatment of high burns. They were returning to California after performing a concert in South Carolina.
Investigation and Findings
The investigation determined that the operator’s inadequate maintenance of the aircraft’s tires led to multiple tire failures during the takeoff roll due to severe underinflation. The captain initiated a rejected takeoff after V1, an action that was inconsistent with her training and standard operating procedures. Contributing factors included deficiencies in Learjet’s design and FAA certification of the Model 60’s thrust reverser system, which allowed critical system failures in the wheel well area to cause uncommanded forward thrust, worsening the accident's severity. Additionally, Learjet’s safety analysis and the FAA’s review failed to detect and correct thrust reverser and wheel well design deficiencies following a similar 2001 uncommanded forward thrust incident. Inadequate industry training standards for flight crews in tire failure scenarios and poor crew resource management among the flight crew were also contributing factors.