Learjet 35A incident near Oxford, Connecticut, June 17, 2002
On June 17, 2002 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Learjet 35A, registered N989AL, suffered minor damage in an incident near Oxford, Connecticut (Waterbury-Oxford airport). It was an instructional 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 flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the commercial pilot during a touch and go landing, including his failure to properly brief the commercial to not use reverse thrust during a touch and go landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 17, 2002 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Oxford, Connecticut · Waterbury-Oxford · map
- Type
- Incident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Learjet 35A · all 35As on the register
- Registration
- N989AL · no longer on the register · serial 212
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The commercial pilot was receiving his initial orientation flight in a Lear 35A, after completion of ground school. Following airwork, the flight proceeded to an airport for touch and go practice. After touchdown, the commercial pilot initiated reverse thrust, and when the flight instructor called for the "go", the commercial pilot stowed the thrust reversers, and advanced the power levers for takeoff thrust. With application of power, the airplane became uncontrollable and departed the left side of the runway, and came to rest in a grassy area. According to the flight instructor, the pneumatic thrust reversers, which were installed on the airplane would not always deploy or stow at the same time, even though the process had been initiated on both reversers at the same time. According to the FAA, the flight manual supplement for the thrust reversers was not in the airplane flight manual. The supplement contained a limitation to not use reverse thrust in a touch and go landing. It also contained a caution to not advance the thrust levers until the IDLE and DEPLOY lights were extinguished. Both pilots reported they were looking outside and did not observe the thrust reverser lights. In addition, the commercial pilot reported he was not aware of the restriction on the use of reverse thrust. The flight instructor reported that he was aware of the restriction; however, he was not aware that the commercial pilot had initiated reverse thrust, and was not expecting it.
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
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 26,300 hours in all; 4,860 in this make and model
- Last flight review: March 6, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3 hours in all; 2,046 in this make and model; 2,240 as pilot in command; 1,443 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 5, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,415.7 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme
- Maximum gross weight: 18,300 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Garrett TFE-731-2-2B (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Garrett TFE-731-2-2B (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: Aircraft Charter Group Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: OXC Oxford CT at 3:35 pm
- Destination: OXC Oxford CT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 8 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 4:35 pm from OXC
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.