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).
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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 October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 7, 1997 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Atlantic Ocean, AO · Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood
- 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 · no longer on the register · 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 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ATL97LA080.