Learjet 35A accident near Rochester, Minnesota, December 8, 1985
On December 8, 1985 at about 7:39 pm local time, a Learjet 35A, registered N15TW, was destroyed in an accident near Rochester, Minnesota (Rochester Muni airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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
- December 8, 1985 · about 7:39 pm local time
- Place
- Rochester, Minnesota · Rochester Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Learjet 35A · all 35As on the register
- Registration
- N15TW · no longer on the register · serial 106
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT HAD JUST SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED A SERIES OF PRACTICE APPROACHES TO A FULL STOP. THE TRAINING FLIGHT WAS BEING CONDUCTED TO GIVE REFRESHER TRAINING TO THE PILOT WHO HAD NOT FLOWN A LEAR JET IN OVER A YEAR AND HAD NEVER FLOWN A LEAR MODEL 35. THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR REQUESTED A PRACTICE APPROACH WITH A MISSED APPROACH AND WAS CLEARED FOR THE OPTION. WITNESSES STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED RIGHT AND THEN ROLLED LEFT TO AN INVERTED POSITION. COLLIDING WITH THE GROUND SHORTLY THEREAFTER.
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; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,986 hours in all; 238 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, October 21, 1985; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 18,300 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Garrett TFE-731-2-2B (turbofan); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MSP Minneapolis MN at 5:52 pm
- Destination: RST Rochester MN
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 13, 7,533 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,600 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 18°F (-8°C), dew point 16°F (-9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:45 pm from RST
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 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.