Learjet 25 accident near Houston, Texas, March 4, 2011
On March 4, 2011 at about 10:00 am local time, a Learjet 25, registered XATWH, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Houston, Texas (William P Hobby Airport). It was flown under foreign airline rules (Part 129). No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The flying pilot's failure to attain the proper touchdown point in low-visibility conditions, which resulted in a runway overrun. Contributing to the accident was mission pressure to land at that airport.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 4, 2011 · about 10:00 am local time
- Place
- Houston, Texas · William P Hobby Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Learjet 25 D · all 25s on the register
- Registration
- XATWH · no longer on the register · serial 289
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · foreign airline rules (Part 129)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During an instrument landing in night instrument meteorological conditions, the airplane exited the far end of the runway and struck the instrument landing system localizer antenna system. The pilot and the co-pilot both reported that, due to fog and low visibility, the pilot flared the airplane too high and landed too long on the runway. The pilot applied maximum braking and reverse thrust, but could not stop the airplane before exiting the runway. The reported weather was visibility of 3/4 mile in mist and an indefinite ceiling at 200 feet. The operator reported that there was no mechanical malfunction or failure of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Both pilots were likely influenced by the mission pressure to land because of medical considerations for a passenger on board.
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
- Landing area overshoot during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Pilot
- factor Personnel issues › Psychological › Personality/attitude › Motivation/respond to pressure › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Ceiling/visibility/precip › Fog › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,475 hours in all; 1,723 in this make and model; 67 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 2,700 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 26, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 828 hours in all; 533 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 57 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 26, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,098 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, January 5, 2011
- Maximum gross weight: 15,000 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: General Electric CJ610 (turbojet); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: General Electric CJ610 (turbojet); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MMTG Tuxla Gutierrez at 7:40 am
- Destination: KHOU Houston TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 12R, 7,602 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 200° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 0.8 statute miles
- Sky: vv at 200 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 am from KHOU, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 4 | |||
| 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.