Crash of a Learjet 35 in Santa Marta

Date & Time: Sep 21, 2020
Type of aircraft:
Learjet 35
Operator:
Registration:
XA-DOC
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Illegal (smuggling)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Santa Marta
Cayo
Country:
Belize
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing an illegal flight in Central America and was apparently attempting to land on a remote area near Santa Marta. The accident occurred in unclear circumstances and nobody was found in the wreckage. The registration XA-DOC is false and the MSN of the airplane remains unknown.

Crash of a Learjet 35A in Esquel: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 5, 2020 at 2238 LT
Type of aircraft:
Learjet 35
Operator:
Registration:
LV-BXU
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Ambulance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
San Fernando – Esquel
MSN:
35-462
YOM:
1982
Location:
Esquel
Chubut
Country:
Argentina
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
1498
Copilot / Total flying hours:
2612
Aircraft flight hours:
11711
Aircraft flight cycles:
10473
Circumstances:
The airplane departed San Fernando Airport on an ambulance flight to Esquel, carrying a doctor, a nurse and two pilots. On approach to Esquel-Brigadier General Antonio Parodi Airport at night, the crew encountered poor visibility (200 metres) and the visual contact with the runway was lost intermittently. Nevertheless, the crew continued the approach and at decision height, the captain decided to continue the descent. After crossing Runway 23 threshold at a height of 78 feet, the pilot-in-command initiated a go-around procedure and turned to the left. The airplane continued in a left hand turn, causing the left wing tip fuel tank to struck the ground. Out of control, the airplane crashed on a small embankment located about 400 metres to the left of the runway centerline, coming to rest upside down and bursting into flames. Both passengers were killed and both pilots were seriously injured. Two days later, the copilot died from injuries sustained.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the accident was the consequence of a controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) and the airplane did not suffer any technical anomalies.
The following contributing factors were identified:
- The crew failed to check the approach charts according to SOP's,
- The approach was initiated and continued in conditions that were below weather minimums,
- Visibility data transmitted by Tower to the crew were inaccurate, leading to confusion on the part of the pilots and their decision-making,
- Both engines were at full power upon impact as the crew was initiating a go-around procedure.
Final Report:

Crash of a Learjet 35A in Buenos Aires

Date & Time: Mar 7, 2019 at 1930 LT
Type of aircraft:
Learjet 35
Operator:
Registration:
LV-BNR
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Rosario – Buenos Aires
MSN:
35-373
YOM:
1981
Location:
Buenos Aires-Aeroparque-Jorge Newbery
Buenos Aires City
Country:
Argentina
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Rosario-Islas Malvinas Airport at 1900LT on a charter flight to Buenos Aires, carrying two passengers and two pilots. On approach to Buenos Aires-Aeroparque-Jorge Newbury Airport by night, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with thunderstorm activity, heavy rain falls and strong winds. The aircraft landed 200 metres past the runway 13 threshold and the crew stated the braking procedure. After a course of about 500 metres, the aircraft deviated to the left and veered off runway. It rolled on a grassy area then contacted the concrete taxiway, causing both main landing gear to be torn off. The aircraft came to rest 860 metres from the runway threshold and was damaged beyond repair. All four occupants evacuated safely.
Probable cause:
Conclusions regarding factors related to the accident:
- At the time of the event, meteorological conditions were poor with a strong storm, rain and gusts of wind.
- Visual cues may have been reduced due to heavy rain falls.
- The aircraft was displaced from the runway center line when it made contact with the ground.
- The aircraft made contact with the left landing gear off the runway due to strong gusts of wind.
- The lateral excursion to the grassy area occurred due to the impossibility of recovering the trajectory of the aircraft, once it was displaced by the action of the wind.
Final Report:

Crash of a Learjet 35A in Toluca

Date & Time: Feb 7, 2019 at 0714 LT
Type of aircraft:
Learjet 35
Operator:
Registration:
XA-DOC
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Ambulance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
35A-447
YOM:
1981
Location:
Toluca
México
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight, the crew configured the aircraft for landing when he realized that the right main landing gear was stuck in its wheel well. The crew continued the approach and landed on runway 15. The airplane fell on its belly, causing the right wing to struck the ground. The airplane slid for few hundred metres then veered off runway to the left and came to rest in a grassy area. All nine occupants were rescued and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
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