Learjet 35 accident near Glennallen, Alaska, August 27, 1999
On August 27, 1999 at about 6:04 pm local time, a Learjet 35, registered N90WR, was substantially damaged in an accident near Glennallen, Alaska (Gulkana airport). It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot-in-command's delay in applying remedial action. A factor associated with the accident was the second-in-command's failure to maintain proper airspeed during final approach.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 27, 1999 · about 6:04 pm local time
- Place
- Glennallen, Alaska · Gulkana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Learjet 35 · all 35s on the register
- Registration
- N90WR · no longer on the register · serial 35-022
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The first officer was flying the airplane. During final approach, in an attempt to lose altitude and align the airplane with the centerline, the first officer turned the airplane to the right, retarded the throttles, and applied nose down elevator. As the airplane passed over the runway threshold, the airspeed decreased rapidly, and an excessive descent rate was noted. The captain then took control of the airplane, and applied full engine power in order to cushion the touchdown. The captain characterized the touchdown as 'firm', but within acceptable limits. He added that the initial touchdown was made on the left main landing gear, and with the left wing low. Both pilots stated that a postlanding inspection was not accomplished. About 45 minutes later, both pilots, the two flight nurses, and one patient, boarded the airplane for the return trip to Anchorage. The first officer said that just prior to departure, she made a quick walk around inspection of the airplane, and saw no airframe anomalies. After arrival in Anchorage, an inspection by ground personnel discovered a 3 feet by 4 inch scrape located on the lower portion of the left wing-tip fuel tank, and wrinkling of the upper left wing panel, adjacent to the left wing-tip fuel tank attach point.
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; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,022 hours in all; 860 in this make and model; 160 in the last 90 days; 80 in the last 30 days; 4,600 as pilot in command; 1,000 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 13,361 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, August 25, 1999; 23 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 18,300 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Garrett TFE 731 (turbofan); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ANC Anchorage AK at 12:30 pm
- Destination: GKN
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 14, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,400 ft; scat at 400 ft
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:50 pm from GKN
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.