Learjet 55 accident near Rutland, Vermont, August 6, 1986
On August 6, 1986 at about 6:55 pm local time, a Learjet 55, registered N921FP, was destroyed in an accident near Rutland, Vermont (Rutland airport). It was an executive or corporate flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. 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
- August 6, 1986 · about 6:55 pm local time
- Place
- Rutland, Vermont · Rutland
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Learjet 55 · all 55s on the register
- Registration
- N921FP · no longer on the register · serial 55-103
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Executive or corporate flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE LEAR 55 TAXIED OUT FOR TAKEOFF AND INADVERTENTLY ATTEMPTED A TAKEOFF ON THE WRONG RUNWAY. WHEN HE REALIZED HIS MISTAKE, HE ABORTED THE TAKEOFF BECAUSE HE KNEW THE RUNWAY LENGTH WAS SIGNIFICENTLY LESS THAN HIS REQUIRED FIELD LENGTH. INSUFFICIENT RUNWAY ALSO REMAINED FOR THE ABORTED TAKEOFF AND THE AIRCRAFT RAN OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY AND HIT A STONE WALL. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE AND THE CO-PILOT RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES WHILE THE PILOT AND THE PASSENGER WERE NOT INJURED.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,900 hours in all; 1,800 in this make and model; 145 in the last 90 days; 5,300 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 901 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, March 31, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 19,500 lb
- Seats: 13
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Garrett TFE-731-2-2B (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Executive Air Fleet CORP.
The flight
- Destination: TEB Teterboro NJ
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 31, 3,207 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 1 | ||
| Passengers | 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.