Gates Learjet 25D accident near Johnstown, Pennsylvania, January 21, 1985
On January 21, 1985 at about 3:03 pm local time, a Gates Learjet 25D, registered N212NE, was substantially damaged in an accident near Johnstown, Pennsylvania (Johnstown airport). It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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 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
- January 21, 1985 · about 3:03 pm local time
- Place
- Johnstown, Pennsylvania · Johnstown
- 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 25D · all 25Ds on the register
- Registration
- N212NE · no longer on the register · serial 25D-212
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT OVERRAN THE END OF RWY 33 DURING AN ABORTED TAKEOFF. DURING THE TAKEOFF GROUND RUN THE ACFT INADVERTENTLY BECAME AIRBORNE AT AN AIRSPEED BWT 80-150 KTS AND ASCENDED TO AN ALT OF APRX 30 FT AGL. THE PLT CORRECTED FOR LEFT YAW WHICH WAS PRESENT AND DECIDED TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF. THE ACFTCAME TO REST APRX 3500 FT FROM THE END OF THE RWY.
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; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,186 hours in all; 740 in this make and model; 190 in the last 90 days; 2,457 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,091 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 28, 1984; 36 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 15,000 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Ge GECJ610-6 (turbojet); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: JST at 3:02 pm
- Destination: CDN Camden SC
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 33, 5,486 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 18 knots, gusting 29
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,000 ft; not recorded at 1,000 ft
- Temperature: 9°F (-13°C), dew point 12°F (-11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:00 am from JST
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.