Gates Learjet CORP. 35A accident near Freeport, Bs, November 9, 2014
On November 9, 2014 at about 9:52 pm local time, a Gates Learjet CORP. 35A, registered N17UF, was destroyed in an accident during approach near Freeport (Grand Bahama International airport). It was an executive or corporate flight under non-U.S. private rules. 9 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- November 9, 2014 · about 9:52 pm local time
- Place
- Freeport, Bahamas · Grand Bahama International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 9 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Gates Learjet CORP. 35A
- Registration
- N17UF · no longer on the register · serial 258
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Executive or corporate flight · non-U.S. private rules
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during approach defining event
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 13,500 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
Co-pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,020 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 18,001 lb
- 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: MYNN Nassau at 9:00 pm
- Destination: MYGF Freeport
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 7 |
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.