Learjet 35 accident near Altoona, Pennsylvania, February 29, 2020
On February 29, 2020 at about 5:35 pm local time, a 1980 Learjet 35, registered N721EC, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR go-around) near Altoona, Pennsylvania (Altoona-Blair County airport). It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot flying's improper lateral bank control during a go-around in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in the left-wing tip tank striking the runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 29, 2020 · about 5:35 pm local time
- Place
- Altoona, Pennsylvania · Altoona-Blair County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Learjet 35 A, built 1980 · all 35s on the register
- Registration
- N721EC · registry record · serial 355
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight crew reported that, after an instrument landing system approach and during the landing flare, the airplane encountered a strong wind gust that pushed the airplane toward the edge of the runway, so they initiated a go-around. During the go-around, the left-wing tip tank struck the runway. The flight crew diverted to another airport where the weather conditions were more favorable, and after landing, examination of the airplane revealed that the left wing had sustained substantial damage. The calculated crosswind component was 18 knots at the time of landing. According to the Airplane Flight Manual, the maximum demonstrated crosswind component was 24.7 knots.
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
- Other weather encounter during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Loss of control on ground during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Abnormal runway contact during approach (VFR go-around) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Lateral/bank control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on operation
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: 6,240 hours in all; 1,750 in this make and model; 114 in the last 90 days; 79 in the last 30 days; 5,495 as pilot in command; 988 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 11, 2019
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 33,000 hours in all; 3,750 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 19 in the last 30 days; 26,210 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 30, 2019
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 14,859 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, August 22, 2019
- Maximum gross weight: 18,001 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Honeywell TFE731-2C-2B (turbofan); 12,984 hours total
- Engine 2: Honeywell TFE731-2C-2B (turbofan); 12,761 hours total
- Operator: East Coast Jets Inc
The flight
- Departed from: ABE Allentown PA at 5:06 pm
- Destination: AOO Altoona PA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 21, 5,465 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,600 ft
- Temperature: 25°F (-4°C), dew point 16°F (-9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observation at 5:35 pm from AOO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on July 31, 2020. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photo Array | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Weather Information | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Lear 35A Flight Manual_crosswind Information | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.