Learjet 24A accident near Eagle, Colorado, March 28, 1987
On March 28, 1987 at about 3:45 am local time, a Learjet 24A, registered N31SK, was destroyed in an accident near Eagle, Colorado (Eagle County airport). It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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
- March 28, 1987 · about 3:45 am local time
- Place
- Eagle, Colorado · Eagle County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Learjet 24A · all 24As on the register
- Registration
- N31SK · registry record · serial 24-118
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,432 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, February 5, 1987; 96 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 13,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: DEN Denver CO at 3:19 am
- Destination: EGE Eagle CO
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 7, 7,000 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 160° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 27°F (-3°C), dew point 12°F (-11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:50 am from EGE, 4 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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.