Learjet INC 60 accident near Salt Lake City, Utah, June 26, 2018
On June 26, 2018 at about 2:50 pm local time, a 1994 Learjet INC 60, registered N57, was substantially damaged in an accident during taxi (to runway) near Salt Lake City, Utah (Salt Lake City Intl airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The flight crew’s failure to fully disengage the parking brake before taxi, which resulted in a brake fire.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 26, 2018 · about 2:50 pm local time · cases in 2018
- Place
- Salt Lake City, Utah · Salt Lake City Intl · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Learjet INC 60 NO SERIES, built 1994
- Registration
- N57 · registry record · serial 039
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilots reported that, while taxiing to the runway for departure, the nose wheel steering seemed unusually sensitive and the airplane pulled slightly to the right. As they neared the runway threshold, they smelled what they thought to be overheated brakes. The crew confirmed the position of the parking brake handle, which had not been fully stowed, and once the handle was completely stowed (parking brake OFF position), the airplane moved more freely. The crew then cancelled their takeoff clearance and taxied the airplane to the runup area to allow the brakes to cool. Shortly thereafter, the control tower notified the flight crew that the airplane was on fire. Examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the underside of the fuselage and right wing due to fire that originated at the right main landing gear. A detailed examination of the airplane’s brake system revealed no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. A review of the cockpit voice recorder information confirmed that the crew did not completely release the parking brake before taxi.
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
What happened, in order
- Fire/smoke (non-impact) during taxi (to runway) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Copilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Brake › Incorrect use/operation other cases naming the landing gear
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: airship
- Flight time: 7,824 hours in all; 2,524 in this make and model; 117 in the last 90 days; 34 in the last 30 days; 6,210 as pilot in command; 1,495 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 9, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,199 hours in all; 1,990 in this make and model; 134 in the last 90 days; 37 in the last 30 days; 4,208 as pilot in command; 1,489 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 16, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: P&W Canada PW305A (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: P&W Canada PW305A (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Federal Aviation Administration
The flight
- Departed from: SLC Salt Lake City UT at 2:30 pm
- Destination: Idaho Falls ID
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 11,000 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 3:54 pm from KSLC
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 3 |
Photographs from the investigation 4 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photo 1 – Accident airplane.
Photo 2 – Fire damaged right side of accident airplane.
Photo 3 – Underside of accident airplane’s right wing.
Photo 4 – Closeup of underside of accident airplane’s right wing.The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on March 12, 2021. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cockpit Voice Recorder Factual Report | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 19 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Memorandum for Record - Maintenance Summary | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Photos | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N57 on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Engine: P&W Canada PW305A 115 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Engine: P&W Canada PW305A 115 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Salt Lake City International · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Utah 1,440 since 1982 · 263 in the last ten years
- Utah 8,353 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ANC18LA049.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.