Gates Learjet 23 accident near Near Savannah, Georgia, May 6, 1982
On May 6, 1982 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Gates Learjet 23, registered N100TA, was destroyed in an accident near Near Savannah, Georgia. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 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
- May 6, 1982 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Near Savannah, Georgia
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Gates Learjet 23 · all 23s on the register
- Registration
- N100TA · registry record · serial 23-045
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FLT WAS CLEARED TO DESCEND FROM FL410 TO FL390. THE FLIGHTCREW ACKNOWLEDGED THE CLEARANCE & ATC OBSERVED THE RADAR TARGET DESCEND. THE ACFT SUDDENLY PITCHED UP WHEN WITHIN 600 FT OF FL390 & CLIMBED. THE PITCHUP WAS FOLLOWED BY TWO PITCH OSCILLATIONS WHICH WERE THEN FOLLOWED BY AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT AT PROGRESSIVELY STEEPER ANGLES UNTIL IMPACT INTO THE ATLANTIC OCEAN.
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; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 7,000 hours in all; 150 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 12,500 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Ge CJ-610-4 (turbojet); 0 hours total
- Operator: Ibex Corporation
The flight
- Departed from: C Teterboro NJ at 10:28 am
- Destination: C Orlando FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 172°F (78°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| 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.