Gates Learjet 35 accident near Waco, Texas, December 20, 1984
On December 20, 1984 at about 10:38 pm local time, a Gates Learjet 35, registered N95TC, was destroyed in an accident near Waco, Texas (Madison Copper airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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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 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 20, 1984 · about 10:38 pm local time
- Place
- Waco, Texas · Madison Copper · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Gates Learjet 35 · all 35s on the register
- Registration
- N95TC · registry record · serial 35020
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
NO EVIDENCE OF PREIMPACT MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS NOTED DURING WRECKAGE EXAMINATION. THE FAA OPERATIONS INSPECTOR WHO WAS ON BOARD AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT STATED THERE WERE NO AIRCRAFT PROBLEMS INVOLVED. THE PIC, WHO WASIN THE PROCESS OF TAKING HER TYPE RATING CHECK RIDE IN THE AIRCRAFT, FAILED TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING A SIMULATED ENGINE FAILURE AFTER REACHING V1 SPEED DURING THE TAKEOFF RUN. THE TOTAL FLIGHT EXPERIENCE FOR THE PIC WAS 2454 HOURS, MOST OF WHICH WAS ACQUIRED IN MULTIENGINE AIRCRAFT, WITH 387 HOURS BEING IN THE MAKE AND MODEL AIRCRAFT INVOLVED IN THE ACCIDENT. ALL LISTED EXPERIENCE IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL WAS OBTAINED AS SECOND-IN-COMMAND.
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
- LOSS OF CONTROL - IN FLIGHT during takeoff - initial climb
- DRAGGED WING,ROTOR,POD,FLOAT OR TAIL/SKID during takeoff - initial climb
- IN FLIGHT COLLISION WITH TERRAIN/WATER during takeoff - initial climb
Pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, none, APLN, none
- Flight time: 2,454 hours in all; 387 in this make and model; 62 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: class 1
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,276 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, October 19, 1984; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 17,000 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Garrett TFE-731-22B (turbojet); 0 hours total
- Operating certificate: in the vicinity
The flight
- Departed from: ACT Waco TX at 10:38 pm
- Destination: DAL Dallas TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 6,597 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; scattered at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 72°C, dew point 61°C
- Altimeter: 29 inHg
- Observation at 10:51 pm from ACT
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 2 |
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 docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site 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 FTW85FA081.