Gates Learjet 35A accident near Nashville, Tennessee, December 26, 2006
On December 26, 2006 at about 2:15 pm local time, a Gates Learjet 35A, registered N136WE, was substantially damaged in an accident near Nashville, Tennessee (Nashville International Airpor airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 7 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate compensation for gusty crosswind conditions during landing, which resulted in a loss of control and collision with the runway. Factors contributing to the accident were the failure of the aileron augmentation (spoiler) flight control system, diminished directional (roll) control, and crosswind gusts.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 26, 2006 · about 2:15 pm local time
- Place
- Nashville, Tennessee · Nashville International Airpor · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 7 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Gates Learjet 35A · all 35As on the register
- Registration
- N136WE · no longer on the register · serial 201
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airline transport pilot was on an instrument flight rules (IFR) cross-country passenger flight under Title 14, CFR Part 135, when the accident occurred. According to the first officer, while on final approach, the "AUG/AIL" (aileron augmentation) light illuminated, indicating a system malfunction. He reset the system per the flight manual (FM), and the light went out. The approach was continued, but during landing, he reported that the AUG/AIL lamp illuminated again, and that the right wing dropped, striking the ground. The first officer said the captain, who was on the controls, had full left aileron deflection trying to compensate, without success. The airplane landed on runway 2C (center) with a magnetic runway heading of 020 degrees. The airport weather observation reported the wind as 310 degrees at 12 knots, with gusts to 17 knots. The first officer reported the wind as 310 degrees at 12 knots, with gusts to 19 knots. According to the FM, Wind Components Chart, an angle of 70 degrees between the prevailing wind direction and the runway heading, would produce crosswind components of 11 knots steady, and 16 knots during gusts for the reported airport observation. The corresponding wind components for the wind as reported by the first officer, would be 11 knots steady, with 18 knots during gusts. According to the FM, the maximum demonstrated crosswind component, when the wind is 90 degrees to the runway heading, is 24.7 knots. The FAA approved Master Minimum Equipment List limits the airplane to 20 knots maximum crosswind component with the AUG/AIL system inoperative. The AUG/AUL system is computer controlled, and automatically activates when the wing flaps are set below 25 degrees, using a combination of aileron and corresponding spoilers to enhance the airplane's roll rate at low airspeeds. The airplane received structural damage to the right wing. An examination of the aileron augmentation system revealed an anomaly in the computer that controls the AUG/AIL system. When the computer was replaced, the system functioned normally.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 18,500 hours in all; 2,100 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 17,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,200 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 68 in the last 30 days; 2,600 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,680 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, October 1, 2006
- Maximum gross weight: 18,000 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Garrett 731-2-2B (turbofan); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RDU Raleigh-Durham NC at 12:53 pm
- Destination: KBNA Nashville TN
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 2C, 8,000 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 12 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,500 ft; clear
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 am from KBNA
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 5 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.