Elizabeth City - Elizabeth City
Flight / Schedule
Elizabeth City - Elizabeth City
Aircraft
Learjet 24Registration
N13MJ
MSN
24-314
Year of Manufacture
1975
Operator
Duncan AviationDate
November 6, 1982 at 09:10 AM
Type
CRASHFlight 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 AviationFlight 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
