Learjet 24 accident near Ypsilanti, Michigan, September 3, 1986
On September 3, 1986 at about 10:53 am local time, a Learjet 24, registered N88JF, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ypsilanti, Michigan (Detroit Willow Run airport). It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. 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
- September 3, 1986 · about 10:53 am local time
- Place
- Ypsilanti, Michigan · Detroit Willow Run · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Learjet 24 · all 24s on the register
- Registration
- N88JF · no longer on the register · serial 110
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
CREW ATTEMPTED ILS APPROACH WITH INDEFINITE CEILING AND RVR=O IN FOG. CO-PILOT AT CONTROLS. DURING MISSED APPROACH, ACFT CONTACTED RUNWAY WHERE GLIDESLOPE INTERSECTS TERRAIN WITH SUFFICIENT FORCE TO SHEAR ALL THREE LANDING GEAR. RIGHT ENGINE SPOLLED DOWN DURING CLIMBOUT. CREW DIVERTED TO DETROIT METRO AND EFFECTED NO GEAR LANDING. MINOR FIRE BROKE OUT DURING GROUND SLIDE. BOTH ALTIMETERS BENCH CHECKED WITHIN TOLERANCES.
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, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,468 hours in all; 233 in this make and model; 220 in the last 90 days; 3,216 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,468 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 25, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 13,000 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Ge CJ610-4 (turbojet); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: MKC Kansas City MO at 9:10 am
- Destination: YIP Ypsilanti MI
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 5R, 7,522 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 am from YIP
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.