Gates Learjet 24F accident near St. Thomas, November 10, 1984
On November 10, 1984 at about 11:06 pm local time, a Gates Learjet 24F, registered N81MC, was destroyed in an accident near St. Thomas (Harry S. Truman airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed, 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- November 10, 1984 · about 11:06 pm local time
- Place
- St. Thomas · Harry S. Truman
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed, 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Gates Learjet 24F · all 24Fs on the register
- Registration
- N81MC · no longer on the register · serial 344
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE EXECUTING A NIGHT VISUAL APPROACH TO RUNWAY 9 IN VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS THE AIRCRAFT WAS ALLOWED TO DESCEND; CRASHING INTO WATER 2 MILES SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT WAS NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE AIRPORT AND FAILED TO MAKE USE OF A FULL INSTRUMENT LANDING SYSTEM AND VISUAL APPROACH SLOPE INDICATING SYSTEM WHICH WERE OPERATIONAL FOR RUN-WAY 9 AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT STATED THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS WITH THE AIRCRAFT WHICH ATTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS EQUIPPED WITH A RADAR ALTIMETER SYSTEM WHICH ALSO WAS NOT USED BY THE PLT. THE PLT PERFORMED TWO MISSED APPROACHES BECAUSE THE ARPT WAS NOT IN SIGHT. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED DURING THE 3RD ATTEMPT.NEITHER THE PIC NOR THE CO-PLT WERE PROPERLY CERTIFICATED FOR THE FLT.
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; single-engine land
- Flight time: 10,190 hours in all; 3,000 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,643 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, March 5, 1984; 22 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 13,500 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Ge CJ-610-6 (turbofan); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FLL Ft.Lauderdale FL at 8:37 pm
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 9, 5,358 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 150° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:45 pm from STT, 2 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 1 | ||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.