Learjet 31A accident near Atlantic Ocean, AO, May 7, 1997
On May 7, 1997 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Learjet 31A, registered N31PV, was substantially damaged in an accident near Atlantic Ocean, AO (Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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 pilot-in-command's failure to maintain airspeed within the design structural limits of the airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 7, 1997 · about 3:00 pm local time · cases in 1997
- Place
- Atlantic Ocean, AO · Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood · cases near this airport
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Learjet 31A · all 31As on the register
- Registration
- N31PV · not in the FAA's current or past register files · serial 130
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While over the Atlantic Ocean at 23,000 feet, the flight received a clearance to descend to 13,000 feet. The instructor pilot took control of the airplane to demonstrate an emergency descent. While descending, the first officer student pilot believed the instructor pilot to be disoriented and assisted in the recovery. The instructor pilot stated he was disoriented and allowed the airplane to reach red line (maximum airspeed allowed). Upon landing, a mechanic noted that the refueling door was missing, and there was damage to the horizontal stabilizer.
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, flight instructor
- 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: 20,000 hours in all; 16,000 in this make and model; 16,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 34 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 34 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 17,000 lb
- Seats: 14
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Garrett TFE-731-2-3B (turbofan); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FLL Fort Lauderdale FL at 2:15 pm
- Destination: FXE FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 9L, 9,001 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- Learjet 31 119 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Engine: Garrett TFE-731-2-3B 25 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International · nearest airport
- Fort Lauderdale Executive · bound for
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ATL97LA080.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.