Gates Learjet 35A accident near Utica, New York, March 19, 2004
On March 19, 2004 at about 11:45 am local time, a Gates Learjet 35A, registered N800AW, was substantially damaged in an accident near Utica, New York (Oneida County Airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The copilot's failure to maintain airspeed, and the captain's delayed remedial action, which resulted in an inadvertent stall and the subsequent hard landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 19, 2004 · about 11:45 am local time
- Place
- Utica, New York · Oneida County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Gates Learjet 35A · all 35As on the register
- Registration
- N800AW · registry record · serial 35A-149
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The copilot was flying an ILS approach at an airspeed of Vref plus 10 knots, and the captain made visual contact with the runway about 350 feet agl. The airplane then drifted high on the glideslope, and the copilot decreased engine power. The sink rate subsequently became too great. By the time the captain called for a go-around, the airspeed had deteriorated, and the stick shaker activated. Although power was applied for the go-around, the airplane impacted the runway in a level attitude before the engines spooled up. The airplane came to rest in snow, about 20 feet off the left side of the runway, near mid-field.
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; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,903 hours in all; 2,036 in this make and model; 229 in the last 90 days; 93 in the last 30 days; 4,506 as pilot in command; 1,415 on instruments
- Last flight review: January 9, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,956 hours in all; 504 in this make and model; 229 in the last 90 days; 93 in the last 30 days; 3,397 as pilot in command; 955 on instruments
- Last flight review: September 16, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 15,331.4 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, March 17, 2004; 11.3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 18,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Garrett TFE731-2-2C (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Garrett TFE731-2-2C (turbofan); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CMH Columbus OH at 10:45 am
- Destination: UCA Utica NY
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 33, 6,002 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 200 ft
- Temperature: 19°F (-7°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.26 inHg
- Observation at 11:56 am from UCA
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.
Other NTSB records under N800AW 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.