Learjet 35A accident near Goodland, Kansas, October 17, 2007
On October 17, 2007 at about 4:10 pm local time, a Learjet 35A, registered N31MC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Goodland, Kansas (Renner Field). It was an executive or corporate flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 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 pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during the landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 17, 2007 · about 4:10 pm local time
- Place
- Goodland, Kansas · Renner Field · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Learjet 35A · all 35As on the register
- Registration
- N31MC · registry record · serial 270
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Executive or corporate flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the flight crew, they exited the clouds approximately 250 feet above ground level, slightly left of the runway centerline. The pilot not flying took control of the airplane and adjusted the course to the right. The airplane rolled hard to the right and when the pilot corrected to the left, the airplane rolled hard to the left. The airplane impacted the ground in a right wing low attitude, resulting in substantial damage. Further examination and testing revealed anomalies with the yaw damper and spoileron computer. According to the manufacturer, these anomalies would not have prevented control of the airplane. Greater control wheel displacement and force to achieve a desired roll rate when compared with an operative spoileron system would be required. The result would be a slightly higher workload for the pilot, particularly in turbulence or crosswind conditions. An examination of the remaining systems revealed no anomalies.
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
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 20,000 hours in all; 7,000 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 20,000 as pilot in command; 4,000 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 9,500 hours in all; 700 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 7,500 as pilot in command; 1,500 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,539.8 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, July 1, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 18,000 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Honeywell TFE 731-2-2B (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Honeywell TFE 731-2-2B (turbofan); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FTW Forth Worth TX at 2:50 pm
- Destination: GLD Goolland KS
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 30, 5,499 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 1.2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 200 ft; ovct at 200 ft
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 29.44 inHg
- Observation at 4:08 pm from KGLD, 1 miles away
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.