Gates Learjet CORP. 35A accident near Kansas City, Missouri, February 24, 2009
On February 24, 2009 at about 12:05 pm local time, a Gates Learjet CORP. 35A, registered N465NW, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR go-around) near Kansas City, Missouri (Kansas City - Downtown airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The copilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during the go-around. Contributing to the accident was the flight crew's delayed decision to perform a go-around.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 24, 2009 · about 12:05 pm local time
- Place
- Kansas City, Missouri · Kansas City - Downtown · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Gates Learjet CORP. 35A
- Registration
- N465NW · no longer on the register · serial 465
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The copilot, who was the flying pilot, inadvertently lined up to land on the wrong runway. When approximately one mile from the runway, the copilot decided to change the flight path to line up with the correct runway. The pilot-in-command (PIC) reported that when the copilot rolled out on final approach, the airplane drifted to the right of the runway centerline. The copilot began to correct the alignment; however, the airplane continued to drift right. At 10 feet above the runway, the PIC instructed the co-pilot to perform a go-around. The PIC stated that the right wing dropped and the right main tires settled on the runway during the go-around. The copilot reported that the turn onto final approach was normal and that the airplane drifted slightly right of centerline when they crossed the airport boundary. The copilot reported that the winds were gusting out of the east (left side) during the landing. The tower informed the flight crew that there was a white mist coming from their right tip tank. Upon inspection the flight crew noticed fuel leaking from the right wing tip tank. The airplane remained in the traffic pattern and then completed an uneventful landing. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the outboard portion of the right wing. Local winds reported 11 minutes prior to the accident were from 150 degrees at 6 knots, and 49 minutes after the accident the local winds were reported as being from 160 degrees at 5 knots.
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
- Abnormal runway contact during approach (VFR go-around) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Copilot
- factor Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Flight crew
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,880 hours in all; 1,504 in this make and model; 96 in the last 90 days; 31 in the last 30 days; 626 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,480 hours in all; 280 in this make and model; 102 in the last 90 days; 31 in the last 30 days; 2,550 as pilot in command; 900 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 20, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 18,648 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 8, 2008; 51 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 15,300 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine 1: Garrett 731-2-2B (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Garrett 731-2-2B (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: Bankair INC
The flight
- Departed from: DAL Dallas TX at 11:02 am
- Destination: MKC Kansas City MO
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 19, 7,002 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Wind: from 150° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 23°F (-5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 11:54 am from MKC
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 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.