Learjet 25 accident near Ithaca, NY
On August 24, 2001, a Learjet 25 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Ithaca, NY. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- August 24, 2001
- Place
- Ithaca, NY
- Aircraft
- Learjet 25 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 42.501°N, 76.473°W
- NTSB ID
- 20010828X01795
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On August 24, 2001, about 0542, eastern daylight time, a Learjet 25, N153TW, operated by Ameristar Jet Charter, Inc., was destroyed when it impacted terrain while departing from the Tompkins County Airport (ITH), Ithaca, New York. The certificated airline transport pilot and the commercial pilot were fatally injured. Night instrument meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 135 on-demand cargo flight, destined for the Jackson County-Reynolds Field, Jackson, Michigan. The airplane had departed Newark International Airport (EWR), Newark, New Jersey, the morning of the accident, and arrived at Ithaca about 0430. The airplane was refueled with 100 gallons of Jet A, and about 400 pounds of cargo was loaded. The flight crew obtained an IFR release on the ground by radio, and departed from runway 32, with the second-in-command (SIC) at the controls. A witness, who was walking on the ramp area south of the runway, stated that he heard the engines spool up; however, due to the fog, he could only see the strobe lights on the airplane. He then observed the airplane rotate near taxiway "Charlie," which was about 3,500 feet from the departure end of the runway. He observed the airplane begin to climb at a steep angle, before losing sight of it when it was about 150 feet above ground level. The witness added that as he continued walking, he heard a loud "bang," and felt a tremor, which he thought was a hangar door. The airplane came to rest in a wooded area about 1/2 mile from the departure end o
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain a proper climb rate while taking off at night, which was a result of spatial disorientation. Factors in the accident were the low visibility and cloud conditions, and the dark night.
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Browse: New York · Learjet aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
