Learjet INC 60 accident near Westhampton, New York, August 24, 2007
On August 24, 2007, a Learjet INC 60, registered N9CU, was substantially damaged in an accident near Westhampton, New York (Francis S. Gabreski airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 6 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 captain's failure to properly align the airplane prior to touchdown.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 24, 2007
- Place
- Westhampton, New York · Francis S. Gabreski · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Learjet INC 60
- Registration
- N9CU · registry record · serial 075
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The captain was completing a night instrument approach, with 1/4-mile visibility and fog, and with the airplane positioned over the runway. Two seconds before touchdown, the first officer advised the captain, "you're drifting off the side," finishing the remark as an automatic 10-foot radio altimeter callout was being made. One second later, the captain responded "got it," and 1 second after that, the airplane's main landing gear touched down firmly near the left side of the runway, headed 20 to 30 degrees to the left of runway heading. The right main landing gear touched down first, followed by the left main landing gear, with no evidence that the nosewheel touched down on the runway. The airplane then continued straight, off the left side of the runway. It subsequently paralleled, then eased back toward the runway until losing its left main landing gear. The airplane then continued along a left arcing turn, crossed a taxiway, and came to rest about 4,300 feet from the runway threshold. Other than an anti-skid fault light, no preaccident mechanical anomalies were noted with the airplane.
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
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 23,800 hours in all; 4,800 in this make and model; 170 in the last 90 days; 27 in the last 30 days; 23,800 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 19, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,500 hours in all; 150 in this make and model; 87 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: April 2, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,028 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, June 28, 2007; 51 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 23,750 lb
- Seats: 11
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine 1: Pratt And Whitney PW305A (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Pratt And Whitney PW305A (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: Jet Share US, LLC
The flight
- Departed from: TPA Tampa FL at 10:12 pm
- Destination: FOK Westhampton NY
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 24, 9,000 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 140° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 0.2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 600 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
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.