Crash of a Learjet 23 in Detroit

Date & Time: Dec 9, 1967 at 1257 LT
Type of aircraft:
Learjet 23
Operator:
Jet International
Registration:
N822LJ
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
23-080
YOM:
1965
Location:
Detroit
Michigan
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
3500
Captain / Total hours on type:
815.00
Circumstances:
Landed hard at Detroit-City Airport, went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest. Both crew members were injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Improper level off on part of the crew who selected the wrong runway relative to existing wind. Unfavorable wind conditions with cross wind 80° 10 knots gusting 18 knots prevaled at the time of the accident.
Final Report:

Crash of a Learjet 23 in Orlando: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 29, 1967 at 2318 LT
Type of aircraft:
Learjet 23
Operator:
Jet International
Registration:
N690LJ
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Jacksonville – Miami
MSN:
23-078
YOM:
1965
Location:
Orlando-Executive (Herndon)
Florida
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
3000
Captain / Total hours on type:
700.00
Circumstances:
On a leg from Jacksonville to Miami, the crew encountered technical problems and decided to divert to Orlando-Herndon Airport. While on a night approach, the airplane became uncontrollable and crashed onto a house located short of runway threshold. The aircraft was destroyed and all three occupants were killed while no one on the ground was injured.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the loss of control on final was the consequence of an insufficient speed as the pilot failed to maintain flying speed. A failure of a fuel pump forced the crew to modify his route and this was the result of a faulty maintenance and servicing.

Crash of a Learjet 23 off Muskegon

Date & Time: Oct 25, 1967 at 1108 LT
Type of aircraft:
Learjet 23
Operator:
Executive Jet Sales
Registration:
N432EJ
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
23-028
YOM:
1965
Location:
Muskegon
Michigan
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
10278
Captain / Total hours on type:
820.00
Circumstances:
While on approach to Muskegon County Airport, both engines failed simultaneously. The aircraft stalled and crashed into Lake Michigan. All four occupants were quickly rescued while the aircraft was lost.
Probable cause:
Failure of both engines while on approach after the compressors stalled due to ice ingestion.
Final Report:

Crash of a Learjet 23 in Clarendon: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 23, 1966 at 1238 LT
Type of aircraft:
Learjet 23
Operator:
Registration:
N235R
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Amarillo - Dallas
MSN:
23-032
YOM:
1965
Location:
Clarendon
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
2554
Captain / Total hours on type:
380.00
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a training flight from Amarillo to Dallas-Fort Worth Airport. While climbing to an altitude of 41,000 feet, the crew lost control of the aircraft that entered an uncontrolled descent, dove into the ground and eventually crashed in a field located about a mile southwest of Clarendon, Texas. The aircraft was totally destroyed upon impact and both occupants were killed. Turbulences were reported in the flight area at the time of the accident.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined. However, it is believed that the loss of control was caused by the failure of both gyro horizons.
Final Report:

Crash of a Learjet 23 off Chicago

Date & Time: Mar 19, 1966 at 1400 LT
Type of aircraft:
Learjet 23
Operator:
Registration:
N316M
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
23-061
YOM:
1965
Location:
Chicago-Merrill C. Meigs
Illinois
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
14720
Captain / Total hours on type:
233.00
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a positioning flight to Chicago-Merrill C. Meigs Airport. On approach, both engines failed simultaneously. The airplane stalled and eventually crashed into Lake Michigan, few miles short of runway. Both pilots were rescued while the aircraft sank and was lost.
Probable cause:
It was determined that both engine failed due to icing. The crew failed to use the engine/nacelle deicing systems and improperly followed the emergency procedures. Then engine heaters were activated after the engine failure, and restart was attempted with both engine heaters on.
Final Report:

Crash of a Learjet 23 in Zurich: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 12, 1965 at 1939 LT
Type of aircraft:
Learjet 23
Operator:
Registration:
D-IHAQ
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Zurich – Nice
MSN:
23-007
YOM:
1965
Location:
Zurich-Kloten
Zurich
Country:
Switzerland
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
1270
Captain / Total hours on type:
121.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
2000
Copilot / Total hours on type:
49
Circumstances:
The airplane, owned by the German Industrialist Harald Quandt, was en route from Zurich to Nice. During the takeoff roll on runway 28 at Zurich-Kloten Airport, while at a speed of 132 knots, the captain realized that the rotation was impossible and decided to abort the takeoff procedure. Unable to stop within the remaining distance (runway 28 is 2,500 meters long), the airplane overran at a speed of 80-100 knots, went through the perimeter fence and came to rest on a road. All seven passengers were unhurt while the captain was injured. The copilot was seriously wounded and died from his injuries while being transferred to a local hospital. At the time of the accident, runway 28 was wet due to recent rain falls.
Probable cause:
It was determined that at the time of the accident, the total weight of the aircraft was 5,935 kg, about 250 kg above the MTOW. It was also reported that the crew failed to prepare the flight properly and that a lack of coordination was considered as a contributing factor.

Crash of a Learjet 23 near Palm Springs: 8 killed

Date & Time: Nov 14, 1965 at 1721 LT
Type of aircraft:
Learjet 23
Operator:
Paul Kelly Flying Service
Registration:
N243F
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Palm Springs – Hollywood
MSN:
23-063
YOM:
1965
Location:
Palm Springs
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Captain / Total flying hours:
15100
Captain / Total hours on type:
125.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
160
Copilot / Total hours on type:
24
Aircraft flight hours:
43
Circumstances:
About 1721 P.s.t., November 14, 1965, Lear Jet Model 23, N243F, operated as a free transportation flight by the Paul Kelly Flying Service, Inc., crashed shortly after a night takeoff from the Palm Springs Airport at Palm Springs, California. The crash was in the Indio Hills approximately 13 miles east of the airport. The six passengers and two crewmembers were fatally injured. The aircraft was destroyed by impact and fire. The flight, which was to transport the passengers to Burbank, California, was observed to depart Runway 13 in a normal manner, commence a low-angle climbout, and accelerate to a relatively high speed. Shortly after takeoff the pilot called the Thermal, California Flight Service Station. Although station personnel responded immediately, there were no other transmissions from the flight. About this time the aircraft was observed to make a left turn beneath a low cloud base of about 3,000 feet, proceed in a northerly direction and then enter a steep dive from horizontal flight, and crash. All eight occupants were killed.


Probable cause:
The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was spatial disorientation of the pilot, resulting in a loss of control.
Final Report:

Crash of a Learjet 23 near Jackson: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 21, 1965 at 1935 LT
Type of aircraft:
Learjet 23
Operator:
Registration:
N804LJ
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Ferry
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Detroit – Wichita
MSN:
23-015
YOM:
1964
Location:
Jackson-Reynolds Field
Michigan
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
3419
Captain / Total hours on type:
642.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
8460
Copilot / Total hours on type:
22
Circumstances:
A Lear Jet Model 23, N804LJ, operated by the Lear Jet Corporation crashed eight miles east-northeast of Jackson, Michigan, at approximately 1935 e.s.t., on October 21, 1965. The pilot and copilot were killed. There were no passengers. The aircraft was destroyed by impact. The flight was operating in accordance with an Instrument Flight Rules flight plan from Detroit, Michigan to Wichita, Kansas, at an assigned altitude of Flight Level 250. The radar controller working the radar contact at 1933, and observed the target traveling in a southwest direction ". . . when the aircraft started a sharp turn to the right (i.e. north) (sic). As the aircraft passed through a northerly heading the beacon target disappeared from the radar." The aircraft was traversing an area of moderate to severe turbulence when it deviated from the assigned route.
Probable cause:
The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was a loss of adequate attitude reference resulting from AC electrical power failure under night, turbulent conditions.
Final Report:

Crash of a Learjet 23 in Wichita

Date & Time: Jun 4, 1964 at 0800 LT
Type of aircraft:
Learjet 23
Operator:
Registration:
N801L
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Wichita - Wichita
MSN:
23-001
YOM:
1963
Location:
Wichita
Kansas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
5700
Captain / Total hours on type:
30.00
Aircraft flight hours:
194
Aircraft flight cycles:
167
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local test flight at Wichita Airport on this first model of the Lear 23. At liftoff, the airplane encountered difficulties to gain height. Out of control, it struck the ground, rolled for several yards and came to rest in flames in a wasteland. Both pilots were seriously injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Inadequate pre-flight preparation and/or planning on part of the flying crew who failed to use or incorrectly used miscellaneous equipment. It was determined that during a test flight, while simulating a failure of the left engine, the crew attempted to takeoff with spoilers extended.
Final Report:
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