Learjet 36A accident near New Haven, Connecticut, September 20, 2012
On September 20, 2012 at about 6:02 pm local time, a Learjet 36A, registered CFEMT, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff (rejected takeoff) near New Haven, Connecticut (Tweed-New Haven Airport). It was flown under foreign airline rules (Part 129). 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
An inadvertent collision with a deer during the takeoff roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 20, 2012 · about 6:02 pm local time
- Place
- New Haven, Connecticut · Tweed-New Haven Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Learjet 36A
- Registration
- CFEMT · no longer on the register · serial 024
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · foreign airline rules (Part 129)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, during the takeoff roll, he noticed two deer on the right side of the runway that were moving into the path of the airplane. He aborted the takeoff and applied maximum braking, but the airplane subsequently struck a deer with the right wing, resulting in substantial damage to the spar. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Airport personnel indicated that deer are not a known problem at the airport and that postaccident discussions between airport personnel and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are underway to install a full airport perimeter fence. In addition, the airport readjusted the agreement with the United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Management Division in order to improve wildlife hazard mitigation strategies.
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
- Wildlife encounter (non-bird) during takeoff (rejected takeoff) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Animal(s)/bird(s) › Ability to respond/compensate
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,300 hours in all; 3,300 in this make and model; 158 in the last 90 days; 44 in the last 30 days; 4,800 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 9, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, foreign licence
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,928 hours in all; 121 in this make and model; 121 in the last 90 days; 45 in the last 30 days; 270 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 24, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 21,086 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, July 30, 2012
- Maximum gross weight: 18,300 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Honeywell TFE731-2B-2C (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Honeywell TFE731-2B-2C (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: Fox Flight, Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: HVN New Haven CT at 6:01 pm
- Destination: CYYR Goose Bay
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 20, 5,600 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 11 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from HVN
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.