Gulfstream Aerospace G IV accident near Bedford, Massachusetts, June 1, 2014
On June 1, 2014 at about 1:40 am local time, a 2000 Gulfstream Aerospace G IV, registered N121JM, was destroyed in an accident during takeoff (rejected takeoff) near Bedford, Massachusetts (Laurence G Hanscom Fld airport). It was an executive or corporate flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 7 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The flight crewmembers' failure to perform the flight control check before takeoff, their attempt to take off with the gust lock system engaged, and their delayed execution of a rejected takeoff after they became aware that the controls were locked. Contributing to the accident were the flight crew's habitual noncompliance with checklists, Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation's failure to ensure that the G-IV gust lock/throttle lever interlock system would prevent an attempted takeoff with the gust lock engaged, and the Federal Aviation Administration's failure to detect this inadequacy during the G-IV's certification.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 1, 2014 · about 1:40 am local time
- Place
- Bedford, Massachusetts · Laurence G Hanscom Fld · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 7 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Gulfstream Aerospace G IV, built 2000 · all G IVs on the register
- Registration
- N121JM · registry record · serial 1399
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Executive or corporate flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The Safety Board's full report is available at http://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/AccidentReports.aspx. The Aircraft Accident Report number is NTSB/AAR-15/03. On May 31, 2014, about 2140 eastern daylight time, a Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation G-IV, N121JM, registered to SK Travel, LLC, and operated by Arizin Ventures, LLC, crashed after it overran the end of runway 11 during a rejected takeoff at Laurence G. Hanscom Field, Bedford, Massachusetts. The airplane rolled through the paved overrun area and across a grassy area, collided with approach lights and a localizer antenna, passed through the airport's perimeter fence, and came to a stop in a ravine. The two pilots, a flight attendant, and four passengers died. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and a postcrash fire. The corporate flight, which was destined for Atlantic City International Airport, Atlantic City, New Jersey, was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. An instrument flight rules flight plan was filed. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident
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
- Preflight or dispatch event during prior to flight
- Runway excursion during takeoff (rejected takeoff) defining event
- Fire/smoke (post-impact) during post (impact)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Flight control system › Gust lock or damper › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Forgotten action/omission › Flight crew
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of checklist › Flight crew
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Attain/maintain not possible
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Flight crew
- factor Personnel issues › Psychological › Personality/attitude › Complacency › Flight crew
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Flight crew
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Runway/taxi/approach light › Contributed to outcome
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tower/antenna (incl guy wires) › Contributed to outcome
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Emergency services personnel
- Organizational issues › Management › Policy/procedure › Adequacy of policy/proc › Emergency services
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Flight control system › Gust lock or damper › Design
- factor Organizational issues › Development › Selection/certification/testing › Equip certification/testing › Manufacturer
- factor Organizational issues › Support/oversight/monitoring › Oversight › Oversight of reg compliance › FAA/Regulator
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 11,270 hours in all; 1,645 in this make and model; 53 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 18,560 hours in all; 3,160 in this make and model; 53 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,945 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, September 20, 2013; 250 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 74,600 lb
- Seats: 16
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Rolls-Royce TAY 611-8 (turbofan); 4,830 hours total
- Engine 2: Rolls-Royce TAY 611-8 (turbofan); 4,880 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Arizin Ventures, LLC
The flight
- Departed from: BED Bedford MA at 1:40 am
- Destination: ACY Atlantic City NJ
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 11, 7,011 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.28 inHg
- Observation at 1:56 am from BED
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 1 | |||
| Flig | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ERA14MA271.