Gates Learjet Aircraft Corporation

Learjet 45

The Learjet was participating in water ingestion tests, which required multiple landing rolls through a diked pool on the runway. On one of the landing rolls, the airplane's left main landing gear and nose landing gear tracked through the pool, while the right main landing gear tracked outside the pool. The airplane veered to the left, departed the left side of the runway, and struck a pickup truck parked adjacent to the runway. The airplane came to rest inverted and on fire. Formal hazard identification and risk management procedures were not employed and no alignment cues were in place on the runway to facilitate pool entry alignment. Further, the accident truck, other vehicles, heavy equipment, and personnel were placed hundreds of feet inside the FAA recommended runway-safe and object-free areas during the test.

Learjet 55 Longhorn

The crew was engaged in a local demonstration flight to potential customers. After takeoff, while flying at a speed of 155 knots and an altitude of 690 feet, the crew initiated a barrel roll when control was lost. The airplane dove into the ground and crashed near the airbase, killing both pilots.