Gates Learjet 35A incident near San Antonio, Texas, October 11, 1994
On October 11, 1994, a Gates Learjet 35A, registered N46TJ, suffered minor damage in an incident near San Antonio, Texas. 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 visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE UNCONTAINED FAILURE OF THE TURBINE WHEEL. A FACTOR WAS THE RESULTANT LOSS OF HYDRAULIC POWER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 11, 1994
- Place
- San Antonio, Texas · map
- Type
- Incident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Gates Learjet 35A · all 35As on the register
- Registration
- N46TJ · registry record · serial 077
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A CLIMB THROUGH FL200, THE CREW HEARD A NOISE, FOLLOWED BY THE LOSS OF POWER FROM THE RIGHT ENGINE AND A YAW. THEY SECURED THE RIGHT ENGINE AND CONTINUED ON TO THEIR DESTINATION. AN INSPECTION OF THE RIGHT ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE NUMBER 3 TURBINE WHEEL HAD FAILED AND THAT THE FAILURE WAS UNCONTAINED. THE FAILURE ALSO SEVERED THE HYDRAULIC LINES IN THE EQUIPMENT BAY AND SEPARATED THE BAY DOOR. THE PIECES OF THE TURBINE WHEEL WERE NOT RECOVERED. DURING THE LANDING ROLL THE CREW EXITED ON A TAXIWAY BUT DID NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT CONTROL TO STAY ON THE TAXIWAY. THE AIRPLANE CAME TO REST IN THE GRASS.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,504 hours in all; 208 in this make and model; 160 in the last 90 days; 60 in the last 30 days; 5,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 17,500 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Garrett TFE-731-2 (turbofan); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LRD Laredo TX at 11:45 pm
- Destination: DAL Dallas TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:51 pm from SAT, 60 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.