Learjet 45XR accident near Telluride, Colorado, January 3, 2009
On January 3, 2009 at about 11:59 pm local time, a Learjet 45XR, registered N279AJ, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Telluride, Colorado (Telluride Regional Airport). It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of both pilots to positively identify the runway prior to landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 3, 2009 · about 11:59 pm local time
- Place
- Telluride, Colorado · Telluride Regional Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Learjet 45XR · all 45XRs on the register
- Registration
- N279AJ · no longer on the register · serial 45-279
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane and two-person crew departed on a positioning flight. The pilot-in-command was not flying the airplane and sat in the right seat. The second-in-command was the pilot flying and sat in the left seat. The accident occurred on the second attempt to land at the destination airport on a snow-covered runway. While descending for the airport, the pilot not flying the airplane called the runway in sight. After assessing that they were too high the pilot not flying convinced the pilot flying to circle the airplane down to land on the runway. Circling at speeds greater than allowed by the approach categories, the crew performed a 360-degree turn to align themselves with the runway. The pilot flying did not have the runway in sight, and was verbally assisted by the pilot not flying. Both pilots stated that they were aligned with the center of the runway. During the flare to touchdown the pilot flying reported an unexpected gust of wind from the left requiring a correction. The airplane touched down about 20 feet off and to the right of the runway edge. Substantial damage was sustained to the airplane's wing and fuselage.
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
- Loss of visual reference during landing defining event
- Landing gear collapse during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Loss of control on ground during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Copilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,800 hours in all; 1,038 in this make and model; 55 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 4,330 as pilot in command; 2,300 on instruments
- Last flight review: September 22, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,520 hours in all; 831 in this make and model; 81 in the last 90 days; 27 in the last 30 days; 3,015 as pilot in command; 800 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 23, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,338 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, November 10, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 21,500 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Honeywell TFE31-20BR-1B (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Honeywell TFE31-20BR-1B (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: Aero Jet Services
The flight
- Departed from: KDSL Scottsdale AZ at 10:03 pm
- Destination: KTEX Telluride CO
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 09, 6,870 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,300 ft; scat at 400 ft
- Temperature: 21°F (-6°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.85 inHg
- Observation at 11:38 pm from KTEX
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | 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.
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.