Lockheed L-1329 JetStar

The aircraft made a surveillance radar approach (SRA) to the Luton runway 08 at night, in conditions of low cloud and poor visibility and landed well past the touchdown zone. It then overran the end of the runway, became airborne over a 10 metre deep escarpment, struck the ground and caught fire. The seven passengers escaped from the aircraft through a hole in the fuselage and the commander exited through his direct vision (DV) window; all of them sustained relatively minor injuries. The co-pilot received severe spinal injuries and was unable to vacate the cockpit without the assistance of the rescue services. The external and cabin fires were extinguished by the aerodrome fire service who were then delayed in entering the cabin by the concentration of smoke and the lack of breathing apparatus.

About 1840 e.s.t., on February 11, 1981, a Lockheed JetStar L-1329-731, N520S, crashed during an instrument landing system approach to runway 16 at the Westchester County Airport, White Plains, New York. The area weather was dominated by low obscured ceilings, rain, fog, and reduced visibility. Winds were strong and gusty with moderate to severe turbulence in the lower levels. Following a recent modification of the generator control. circuitry, the aircraft's electrical system had experienced several multiple generator failures.

During the takeoff roll at Chicago-Midway Airport runway 13R, the nose gear lifted off twice but the airplane failed to takeoff. Decision to abandon the takeoff procedure was taken too late. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the airplane overran at a speed of about 60-80 knots, crossed a perimeter road, went through a fence, struck an ILS antenna and came to rest in flames against concrete blocks. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all four occupants were killed.

The crew started the approach to Saranac Lake-Adirondack Airport by night and encountered poor visibility due to fog and snow showers. Unable to locate the runway, the captain decided to abandon the approach and initiated a go-around. Few minutes later, a second attempt to land was also abandoned for similar reasons. During a third attempt, the airplane passed below the MDA and once at an altitude of 2,140 feet, it struck trees and crashed in a wooded area located about 2 miles short of runway threshold. The aircraft was destroyed and all three crew members were killed.

The JetStar was executing a visual approach to Bremen following an IFR ferry flight from Cologne Airport (CGN). At the same time a Piaggio P.149D trainer aircraft of the Lufthansa Flying School took off from Bremen. The student pilot was flying under the 'hood' in order to simulate an IFR training mission. The JetStar collided head on with a Piaggio P.149D. The Piaggio crashed but the JetStar managed to carry out an emergency landing at Bremen. The JetStar had suffered substantial damage to the underside of the flight deck. The undercarriage could not be deployed and one of the engines had lost power. A belly landing was carried out on the grass next to the runway.

On final approach to Robins AFB, the four engine aircraft went out of control and crashed in flames short of runway 32 threshold. One occupant survived while five others were killed.