Learjet 23 accident near Holland, Michigan, October 14, 1994
On October 14, 1994 at about 7:25 pm local time, a Learjet 23, registered N20TA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Holland, Michigan (Tulip City airport). It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE COPILOT'S MISJUDGMENT OF THE TOUCHDOWN POINT, AND THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S INADEQUATE SUPERVISION TO AVOID THE ACCIDENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 14, 1994 · about 7:25 pm local time
- Place
- Holland, Michigan · Tulip City · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Learjet 23 · all 23s on the register
- Registration
- N20TA · registry record · serial 23-062
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE OPERATOR REPORTED THAT THE COPILOT WAS FLYING THE AIRPLANE. FOLLOWING WHAT WAS DESCRIBED AS A NORMAL APPROACH, THE AIRPLANE LANDED SHORT OF THE RUNWAY WITH A 10-15 DEG RIGHT YAW. THE CREW REPORTEDLY HEARD A CRACKING SOUND, AND THE AIRPLANE VEERED TO THE LEFT. THE CAPTAIN TOOK CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AND ABORTED THE LANDING. A SUBSEQUENT FLY-BY DISCLOSED THAT THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR WAS DAMAGED, AND THE LEFT WINGTIP FUEL TANK WAS LEAKING. THE CREW RETURNED TO THEIR HOME AIRPORT FOR REPAIRS, AND DURING LANDING THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED.
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: 4,482 hours in all; 2,410 in this make and model; 265 in the last 90 days; 125 in the last 30 days; 3,353 as pilot in command; 1,671 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 12,993 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, September 9, 1994; 155 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 12,499 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Ge CJ-610-4 (turbojet); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: YIP Ypsilanti MI at 6:50 pm
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 8, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.