Learjet 35A accident near Groton, CT
On August 4, 2003, a Learjet 35A (airplane) was involved in an accident near Groton, CT. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- August 4, 2003
- Place
- Groton, CT
- Aircraft
- Learjet 35A · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 41.338°N, 72.054°W
- NTSB ID
- 20030814X01339
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On August 4, 2003, at 0639 eastern daylight time, a Learjet 35A, N135PT, operated by Air East Management Ltd., was destroyed when it impacted a residential home and terrain while maneuvering to land at the Groton/New London Airport (GON), Groton, Connecticut. The two certificated airline transport pilots were fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan had been filed for the flight, which originated from Republic Airport (FRG), Farmingdale, New York. The positioning flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. Review of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) air traffic control (ATC) communication and recorded radar data, revealed that the flight departed Republic Airport about 0610. About 5 miles west of Groton, the flightcrew advised the Providence Approach controller that they had visual contact with the airport, and requested to cancel their IFR clearance. The controller acknowledged the request and terminated the clearance. No further communications were received from the flightcrew. According to the recorded radar data, a target was observed entering the left downwind for runway 23 at Groton, at an altitude of 1,800 feet, and continued to descend. About 2.7 miles northeast of the runway, the target made a left turn onto base leg. About 1.3 miles from the runway, and south of the extended runway centerline, the target turned left, and then back toward the right. When the target was about 1/8-mile south of the runway threshold, at an altitude of approximately 300 feet, an approximate 60-deg
Probable cause
The first officer's inadvertent retraction of the flaps during the low altitude maneuvering, which resulted in the inadvertent stall and subsequent in-flight collision with a residential home. Factors in the accident were the captain's decision to perform a low altitude maneuver using excessive bank angle, the flight crews inadequate coordination, and low clouds surrounding the airport.
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Browse: Connecticut · 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.
