Gates Lear Jet 35 accident near Valencia, Carabobo, Ve, September 17, 2011
On September 17, 2011 at about 9:35 pm local time, a Gates Lear Jet 35, registered N535LC, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Valencia, Carabobo (Arturo Michelena airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 7 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
- September 17, 2011 · about 9:35 pm local time
- Place
- Valencia, Carabobo, Venezuela · Arturo Michelena · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 7 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Gates Lear Jet 35 · all 35s on the register
- Registration
- N535LC · no longer on the register · serial 021
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On September 17, 2011, about 2135 universal coordinated time, a Gates Lear Jet 35, N535LC, was substantially damaged while landing at the Arturo Michelena Airport (SVVA), Valencia, Carabobo, Venezuela. The two pilots and five passengers were not injured. The weather conditions and flight plan information was unknown for the personal flight that departed Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport (FXE), Fort Lauderdale, Florida. This investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Government of Venezuela. Further information may be obtained from: Junta Investigadora de Accidentes de Aviación Ministerio del Poder Popular para las Obras Publicas y Vivienda Av. Francisco de Miranda Torre MINFRA, Piso-20 Caracas, Venezuela Telephone: (+58 212) 2015491 This report is for informational purposes and contains only information released by or obtained for the Government of Venezuela.
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
What happened, in order
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll) defining event
Pilot
- Seat: unk
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Garrett TFE 731 SER (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Garrett TFE 731 SER (turbofan); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FXE Fort Lauderdale FL
- Destination: SVVA Valencia, Carabobo
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 28, 10,040 ft by 157 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 5 |
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.