Gates Learjet 35A accident near Rogers, Arkansas, May 23, 1995
On May 23, 1995 at about 1:10 pm local time, a Gates Learjet 35A, registered N450MC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rogers, Arkansas (Carter Field). It was an executive or corporate flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 7 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE RIGHT OUTBOARD TIRE FOR UNDETERMINED REASON.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 23, 1995 · about 1:10 pm local time
- Place
- Rogers, Arkansas · Carter Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 7 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Gates Learjet 35A · all 35As on the register
- Registration
- N450MC · no longer on the register · serial 368
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Executive or corporate flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE RIGHT OUTBOARD TIRE FAILED WHILE THE AIRPLANE WAS ACCELERATING WITHIN 15 KNOTS OF V1 SPEED DURING TAKEOFF FROM A 6,011 FOOT RUNWAY. THE PILOT HEARD A LOUD NOISE PRECEDED BY A VIBRATION. THE CREW ABORTED THE TAKEOFF BY CLOSING THE THROTTLES, DEPLOYING THE THRUST REVERSERS, AND APPLYING FULL BRAKING. THE AIRPLANE OVERRAN THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. BOTH MAIN LANDING GEARS COLLAPSED AFTER THE AIRPLANE CROSSED A SHALLOW DRAINAGE DITCH APPROXIMATELY 200 FEET BEYOND THE THRESHOLD. NO EVIDENCE OF PREIMPACT MECHANICAL FAILURE, IMPROPER SERVICING, OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND.
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, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,500 hours in all; 150 in this make and model; 130 in the last 90 days; 106 in the last 30 days; 7,095 as pilot in command; 70 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,506 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 29, 1995; 127 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 18,500 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Garrett TFE731-2-2B (turbojet); 0 hours total
- Operator: Wal-Mart Stores INC.
The flight
- Departed from: ROG at 1:10 pm
- Destination: MTO Toluca
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 19, 6,011 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.
Other NTSB records under N450MC the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.