Crash of a Learjet 35A off Ushuaia: 12 killed

Date & Time: May 15, 1984 at 1700 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
LV-TDF
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Buenos Aires – Río Grande – Ushuaia
MSN:
35-478
YOM:
1982
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Buenos Aires-Aeroparque-Jorge Newbery Airport on a flight to Ushuaia with an intermediate stop in Río Grande, carrying two pilots and 10 passengers, among them the Governor of the Province of Tierra del Fuego. Following a stop at Río Grande Airport where two passengers disembarked and two others boarded, the aircraft took off at 1638LT on the last leg to Ushuaia. On approach to Ushuaia Airport, the crew encountered limited visibility due to snow falls. On final in IMC conditions, the captain decided to continue under VFR mode but failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane struck the water surface and crashed in the Beagle Canal, about 9 km east of the airport. The aircraft sank and all 12 occupants were killed.
Crew:
Mario Marconcini, pilot,
Rodolfo Pourrain, copilot.
Passengers:
Ramón Alberto Trejo Noel, Governor of the Province of Tierra del Fuego,
Mrs Ofelia Olga Lisa, Mr. Noel spouse,
Dr. Ernesto Julio Löffler,
Roberto Luis Campanella, Minister of Public Health and Social Action,
Fernando Diego García, Minister of Economy,
Ricardo Luis Sica, Private secretary of the Governor,
Guillermo Marcilese, General Secretary,
Carlos Alberto Lisa, Assessor,
Nora Ormiston, Assessor,
Pedro Alberto Altuna.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the pilot-in-command may suffered an optical illusion on final approach and continued the descent below MDA in marginal weather conditions until impact with water.

Crash of a Learjet 35A off Kuala Selangor: 6 killed

Date & Time: Feb 13, 1983 at 2100 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N482U
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Kuala Lumpur - Colombo
MSN:
35-482
YOM:
1982
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed Kuala Lumpur-Subang Airport at 2141LT bound for Colombo, Sri Lanka. While flying at an altitude of 27,000 feet, the crew was cleared to climb to FL390 when the airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in the Malacca Strait, about 20 km off Kuala Selangor. SAR operations were initiated and a survey kit was found six days later. The main wreckage as well as bodies or debris were not found.
Crew:
Noel Anandappa, pilot,
Sydney Soysa, copilot,
S. Senenakye, steward.
Passenger:
Upali Wijewardene,
S. M. Ratnam,
Ananda Peli Muhandiram.
Probable cause:
Due to lack of evidences as the wreckage was not found, the exact cause of the accident could not be determined.

Crash of a Learjet 35 in Paris

Date & Time: Dec 6, 1982 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
HB-VFO
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Paris - Geneva
MSN:
35-184
YOM:
1978
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll at Paris-Le Bourget Airport, at V1 speed, the airplane collided with a flock of seagulls. The crew immediately abandoned the takeoff maneuver and initiated an emergency braking procedure. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran, struck a perimeter fence and came to rest 56 meters past the runway end. All four occupants escaped with minor injuries and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the bird strike occurred at V1 speed. The decision of the crew to abandon the takeoff maneuver was correct but the airspeed was too high to expect the aircraft to stop within the remaining distance. The engines were not damaged as no birds were ingested but the aircraft suffered excessive structural damages and was considered as damaged beyond repair. The crew reaction was adequate despite the fact that they failed to follow certain procedures related to an emergency takeoff interruption, the tail parachute not having been deployed and the emergency brakes not having been activated.

Crash of a Learjet 35A off Pebble Island: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jun 7, 1982 at 0913 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
T-24
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Comodoro Rivadavia - Comodoro Rivadavia
MSN:
35-333
YOM:
1980
Flight number:
Nardo 1
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Comodoro Rivadavia Airport at 0800LT with a second Learjet 35A registered LV-ONN on a reconnaissance (aerial photography) mission under callsign Nardo 1. While approaching Pebble Island, the aircraft was shot down by a surface-to-air Sea Dart missile fired by HMS Exeter. The airplane entered a dive and crashed into the sea. All five crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a surface-to-air missile.

Crash of a Learjet 35A in Palma de Mallorca: 4 killed

Date & Time: Aug 13, 1980 at 2156 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
EC-DFA
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Madrid - Palma de Mallorca
MSN:
35-196
YOM:
1978
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While on a visual approach to runway 24, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located 8 km short of runway. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and all four occupants were killed.

Crash of a Learjet 35 in Egypt: 5 killed

Date & Time: Aug 11, 1979
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N711AF
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Athens - Jeddah
MSN:
35-029
YOM:
1975
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
En route from Athens to Jeddah on a delivery flight, the twin engine airplane went out of control and crashed in unknown circumstances in a desert area in Egypt. SAR operations were quickly initiated but eventually abandoned after few days as no trace of the aircraft nor the five occupants was found. On 6 March 1987, the wreckage was found about 100 km south of Katab.

Crash of a Learjet 35 off Palermo: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 22, 1978
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
I-MCSA
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Rome - Palermo
MSN:
35-099
YOM:
1977
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
On approach to Palermo-Punta Raisi on a flight from Rome-Ciampino, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea few km offshore. All three occupants were killed.

Crash of a Learjet 35 in Riyadh: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 28, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
JY-AEW
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
35-052
YOM:
1976
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
During start-up, the crew encountered technical problems with the left engine that would not run because the starter failed. The crew elected to start the takeoff procedure with the left engine inoperative and to proceed with an airstart. During the takeoff roll, just before rotation, the crew lost control of the airplane that crashed. Both pilots were killed.