Elizabeth City - Elizabeth City

After the two aircraft were established at 14,000 feet during a target towing operation, N13MJ (lead aircraft) maintained straight and level flight on autopilot while N47MJ (chase) came up along the left side to observe the target on the left wing. While moving forward and looking out the right window to see a light on the target, the chase pilot lost sight of the lead aircraft. He reduced power and in the process of backing away, the chase aircraft struck the top of the flying tail of the lead acft with its radome jamming the flying tail. The lead aircraft pitched down, lost about 6,000 feet and then recovered. During the emergency landing of the lead aircraft, it pitched over when the gear was extended on short final, struck the ground hard short of the runway, bounced and started porpoising. As the pilot added power for a go-around, the aircraft started to roll. Power was reduced and about 5,000 feet down the runway, the gear collapsed causing the aircraft to veer off the runway. The pilot of the chase aircraft was not military trained and had no formal formation flight training.

Flight / Schedule

Elizabeth City - Elizabeth City

Aircraft

Learjet 24

Registration

N13MJ

MSN

24-314

Year of Manufacture

1975

Operator

Duncan Aviation

Date

November 6, 1982 at 09:10 AM

Type

CRASH

Flight Type

Training

Flight Phase

Landing (descent or approach)

Crash Site

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Crash Location

Elizabeth City North Carolina

Region

North America • United States of America

Coordinates

36.3010°, -76.2204°

Crash Cause

Human factor

Narrative Report

On November 6, 1982 at 09:10 AM, Elizabeth City - Elizabeth City experienced a crash involving Learjet 24, operated by Duncan Aviation, with the event recorded near Elizabeth City North Carolina.

The flight was categorized as training and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

4 people were known to be on board, 0 fatalities were recorded, 4 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 0.0%.

Crew on board: 4, crew fatalities: 0, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. After the two aircraft were established at 14,000 feet during a target towing operation, N13MJ (lead aircraft) maintained straight and level flight on autopilot while N47MJ (chase) came up along the left side to observe the target on the left wing. While moving forward and looking out the right window to see a light on the target, the chase pilot lost sight of the lead aircraft. He reduced power and in the process of backing away, the chase aircraft struck the top of the flying tail of the lead acft with its radome jamming the flying tail. The lead aircraft pitched down, lost about 6,000 feet and then recovered. During the emergency landing of the lead aircraft, it pitched over when the gear was extended on short final, struck the ground hard short of the runway, bounced and started porpoising. As the pilot added power for a go-around, the aircraft started to roll. Power was reduced and about 5,000 feet down the runway, the gear collapsed causing the aircraft to veer off the runway. The pilot of the chase aircraft was not military trained and had no formal formation flight training.

Aircraft reference details include registration N13MJ, MSN 24-314, year of manufacture 1975.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 36.3010°, -76.2204°.

Fatalities

Total

0

Crew

0

Passengers

0

Other

0

Crash Summary

After the two aircraft were established at 14,000 feet during a target towing operation, N13MJ (lead aircraft) maintained straight and level flight on autopilot while N47MJ (chase) came up along the left side to observe the target on the left wing. While moving forward and looking out the right window to see a light on the target, the chase pilot lost sight of the lead aircraft. He reduced power and in the process of backing away, the chase aircraft struck the top of the flying tail of the lead acft with its radome jamming the flying tail. The lead aircraft pitched down, lost about 6,000 feet and then recovered. During the emergency landing of the lead aircraft, it pitched over when the gear was extended on short final, struck the ground hard short of the runway, bounced and started porpoising. As the pilot added power for a go-around, the aircraft started to roll. Power was reduced and about 5,000 feet down the runway, the gear collapsed causing the aircraft to veer off the runway. The pilot of the chase aircraft was not military trained and had no formal formation flight training.

Cause: Human factor

Occupants & Outcome

Crew On Board

4

Passengers On Board

0

Estimated Survivors

4

Fatality Rate

0.0%

Known people on board: 4

Operational Details

Schedule / Flight

Elizabeth City - Elizabeth City

Operator

Duncan Aviation

Flight Type

Training

Flight Phase

Landing (descent or approach)

Crash Site

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Region / Country

North America • United States of America

Aircraft Details

Aircraft

Learjet 24

Registration

N13MJ

MSN

24-314

Year of Manufacture

1975