Gates Learjet 25D accident near Pecos, New Mexico, September 5, 1993
On September 5, 1993 at about 11:15 pm local time, a Gates Learjet 25D, registered N999BH, was destroyed in an accident near Pecos, New Mexico. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 7 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
WAS PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT OF THE PILOT IN COMMAND FROM ALCOHOL AND DRUGS. A FACTOR WAS THE FIRST OFFICER'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THE LEAR JET.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 5, 1993 · about 11:15 pm local time
- Place
- Pecos, New Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 7 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Gates Learjet 25D · all 25Ds on the register
- Registration
- N999BH · registry record · serial 318
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE DESCENDING TO HIS DESTINATION THE PILOT IN COMMAND (PIC) CANCELED HIS IFR CLEARANCE AND DECLINED VFR FLIGHT FOLLOWING. WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT MANEUVERING AT LOW ALTITUDE IN THE AREA WHERE THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED, APPROXIMATELY 25 MILES FROM THE DESTINATION AIRPORT. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED RISING TERRAIN AT 7,300 FEET MSL. TOXICOLOGICAL TESTING REVEALED THAT THE PIC AND TWO PASSENGERS HAD COCAINE AND ALCOHOL IN TISSUE SAMPLES. AT AN UNKNOWN TIME THE PIC LEFT THE COCKPIT. BASED ON COCKPIT VOICE RECORDER ANALYSIS, HE WAS CALLED BACK TO THE COCKPIT APPROXIMATELY 11 MINUTES PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT BY THE COPILOT. THE COPILOT HAD NO PREVIOUS LEAR EXPERIENCE. TOXICOLOGICAL TEST RESULTS INDICATED THAT THE PIC 'USED COCAINE IN THE VERY RECENT PAST, PROBABLY WHILE IN-FLIGHT' AND CONCLUDED THAT HE 'WAS IMPAIRED BY MULTIPLE DRUG USE OF COCAINE AND ALCOHOL.' THE INVESTIGATION DID NOT REVEAL ANY STRUCTURAL OR SYSTEM FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 17,000 hours in all; 4,000 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,973 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, August 10, 1993
- Maximum gross weight: 15,000 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Ge CJ610-8A (turbojet); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HOU Houston TX at 9:27 pm
- Destination: SAF Santa Fe NM
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 15,000 ft; scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:47 pm from SAF, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 5 |
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.