Gates Learjet 35A accident near Indianapolis, Indiana, April 7, 1983
On April 7, 1983 at about 5:00 am local time, a Gates Learjet 35A, registered N3794W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Indianapolis, Indiana (Indianapolis Intl airport). It was an executive or corporate flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 7, 1983 · about 5:00 am local time
- Place
- Indianapolis, Indiana · Indianapolis Intl
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Gates Learjet 35A · all 35As on the register
- Registration
- N3794W · no longer on the register · serial 35A-454
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Executive or corporate flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK TREES ONE MILE FROM THE RUNWAY DURING AN ILS APPROACH TO INDIANAPOLIS INTL AIRPORT AFTER A FLIGHT FROM CHICAGO. THE PILOT SUCCESSFULLY EXECUTED A MISSED APPROACH AND DIVERTED TO HULMAN REGIONAL AIRPORT, TERRE HAUTE, IN, FOR AN EMERGENCY LANDING. THE ACFT LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. NONE OF THE SIX OCCUPANTS WERE INJURED. THE WEATHER AT INDIANAPOLIS AT THE TIME OF THE APPROACH WAS INDEFINITE CEILING 100 FEET OBSCURATION. VISIBILITY 1/8 MILEIN FOG, WIND 250 DEGREES AT 3 KNOTS. THE DECISION HEIGHT FOR THE APPROACH IS 984 FEET. FIELD ELEVATION IS 797 FEET MSL.
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
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 11,290 hours in all; 90 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 11,200 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 570 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 17, 1983; 70 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 17,000 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Garrett TFE-731-2-2B (turbofan); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ORD Chicago IL at 4:30 am
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 4L, 10,005 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 250° at 3 knots
- Sky: not recorded at 100 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:00 am from IND, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
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.