Orlando - Dallas

On October 25, 1999, about 1213 central daylight time (CDT), a Learjet Model 35, N47BA, operated by Sunjet Aviation, Inc., of Sanford, Florida, crashed near Aberdeen, South Dakota. The airplane departed Orlando, Florida, for Dallas, Texas, about 0920 eastern daylight time (EDT). Radio contact with the flight was lost north of Gainesville, Florida, after air traffic control (ATC) cleared the airplane to flight level (FL) 390. The airplane was intercepted by several U.S. Air Force (USAF) and Air National Guard (ANG) aircraft as it proceeded northwestbound. The military pilots in a position to observe the accident airplane at close range stated (in interviews or via radio transmissions) that the forward windshields of the Learjet seemed to be frosted or covered with condensation. The military pilots could not see into the cabin. They did not observe any structural anomaly or other unusual condition. The military pilots observed the airplane depart controlled flight and spiral to the ground, impacting an open field. All occupants on board the airplane (the captain, first officer, and four passengers) were killed, and the airplane was destroyed. Crew: Michael Kling, Stephanie Bellegarrigue. Passengers: Payne Stewart, Van Ardan, Bruce Borland, Robert Fraley.

Flight / Schedule

Orlando - Dallas

Aircraft

Learjet 35

Registration

N47BA

MSN

35-060

Year of Manufacture

1976

Operator

Sunjet Aviation

Date

October 25, 1999 at 12:13 PM

Type

CRASH

Flight Type

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Flight Phase

Flight

Crash Site

Plain, Valley

Crash Location

Mina South Dakota

Region

North America • United States of America

Coordinates

45.4384°, -98.7560°

Crash Cause

Technical failure

Narrative Report

On October 25, 1999 at 12:13 PM, Orlando - Dallas experienced a crash involving Learjet 35, operated by Sunjet Aviation, with the event recorded near Mina South Dakota.

The flight was categorized as charter/taxi (non scheduled revenue flight) and the reported phase was flight at a plain, valley crash site.

6 people were known to be on board, 6 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 2, crew fatalities: 2, passengers on board: 4, passenger fatalities: 4, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is technical failure. On October 25, 1999, about 1213 central daylight time (CDT), a Learjet Model 35, N47BA, operated by Sunjet Aviation, Inc., of Sanford, Florida, crashed near Aberdeen, South Dakota. The airplane departed Orlando, Florida, for Dallas, Texas, about 0920 eastern daylight time (EDT). Radio contact with the flight was lost north of Gainesville, Florida, after air traffic control (ATC) cleared the airplane to flight level (FL) 390. The airplane was intercepted by several U.S. Air Force (USAF) and Air National Guard (ANG) aircraft as it proceeded northwestbound. The military pilots in a position to observe the accident airplane at close range stated (in interviews or via radio transmissions) that the forward windshields of the Learjet seemed to be frosted or covered with condensation. The military pilots could not see into the cabin. They did not observe any structural anomaly or other unusual condition. The military pilots observed the airplane depart controlled flight and spiral to the ground, impacting an open field. All occupants on board the airplane (the captain, first officer, and four passengers) were killed, and the airplane was destroyed. Crew: Michael Kling, Stephanie Bellegarrigue. Passengers: Payne Stewart, Van Ardan, Bruce Borland, Robert Fraley.

Aircraft reference details include registration N47BA, MSN 35-060, year of manufacture 1976.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 45.4384°, -98.7560°.

Fatalities

Total

6

Crew

2

Passengers

4

Other

0

Crash Summary

On October 25, 1999, about 1213 central daylight time (CDT), a Learjet Model 35, N47BA, operated by Sunjet Aviation, Inc., of Sanford, Florida, crashed near Aberdeen, South Dakota. The airplane departed Orlando, Florida, for Dallas, Texas, about 0920 eastern daylight time (EDT). Radio contact with the flight was lost north of Gainesville, Florida, after air traffic control (ATC) cleared the airplane to flight level (FL) 390. The airplane was intercepted by several U.S. Air Force (USAF) and Air National Guard (ANG) aircraft as it proceeded northwestbound. The military pilots in a position to observe the accident airplane at close range stated (in interviews or via radio transmissions) that the forward windshields of the Learjet seemed to be frosted or covered with condensation. The military pilots could not see into the cabin. They did not observe any structural anomaly or other unusual condition. The military pilots observed the airplane depart controlled flight and spiral to the ground, impacting an open field. All occupants on board the airplane (the captain, first officer, and four passengers) were killed, and the airplane was destroyed. Crew: Michael Kling, Stephanie Bellegarrigue. Passengers: Payne Stewart, Van Ardan, Bruce Borland, Robert Fraley.

Cause: Technical failure

Occupants & Outcome

Crew On Board

2

Passengers On Board

4

Estimated Survivors

0

Fatality Rate

100.0%

Known people on board: 6

Operational Details

Schedule / Flight

Orlando - Dallas

Operator

Sunjet Aviation

Flight Type

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Flight Phase

Flight

Crash Site

Plain, Valley

Region / Country

North America • United States of America

Aircraft Details

Aircraft

Learjet 35

Registration

N47BA

MSN

35-060

Year of Manufacture

1976

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