Gates Learjet 25D accident near Denver, Colorado, March 3, 1984
On March 3, 1984 at about 8:45 pm local time, a Gates Learjet 25D, registered XALAP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Denver, Colorado (Stapleton Intl airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved. 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
- March 3, 1984 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Denver, Colorado · Stapleton Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Gates Learjet 25D · all 25Ds on the register
- Registration
- XALAP · no longer on the register · serial 366
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ABOUT 1 MI FROM THE ARPT WHILE ESTABLISHED ON THE GLIDE SLOPE, THE PLT WAS ADVISED BY THE CONTROLLER TO GO AROUND DUE TOTRAFFIC ON THE GROUND. JUST AFTER THE PLT ADVANCED THE THROTTLES & RETRACTED THE LANDING GEAR, THE CONTROLLER AGAIN CLEARED THE PLT FOR LANDING SINCE THE TRAFFIC ON THE GROUND HAD CLEARED THE RWY. THE PLT STATED HE IMMEDIATELY 'CHOPPED'THE THROTTLES & EXTENDED THE GEAR. THE ACFT LANDED HARD ON THE RWY ABOUT 1500 FT FROM THE THRESHOLD. BUCKLING & WRINKLING OF THE FUSELAGE SKIN WAS EVIDENT JUST FORWARD OF EACH ENG. EXTENSIVE EXTERNAL BUCKLING COULD BE SEEN IN THE AREA OF THE RIGHT LANDING GEAR.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,020 hours in all; 28 in this make and model; 32 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Unknown (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 605 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, January 20, 1984; 565 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 15,000 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Ge 610-8A (turbofan); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SAT San Antonio TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 35R, 12,000 ft by 200 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.