Learjet LR25B-XR accident near Columbus, Ohio, July 2, 1991
On July 2, 1991 at about 1:52 am local time, a Learjet LR25B-XR, registered N458J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Columbus, Ohio (Port Columbus airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind 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 FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN VISUAL REFERENCE WITH THE RUNWAY DURING A LANDING, WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. ALSO CAUSAL TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO INITIATE A GO-AROUND, AFTER HE LOST SIGHT OF THE RUNWAY DURING THE TOUCHDOWN. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE HEAVY RAIN AND THE LACK OF RUNWAY CENTERLINE LIGHTS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 2, 1991 · about 1:52 am local time
- Place
- Columbus, Ohio · Port Columbus · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Learjet LR25B-XR
- Registration
- N458J · no longer on the register · serial 106
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
N458J WAS LANDING DURING A RAIN SHOWER. AS THE AIRPLANE STARTED TO FLARE FOR LANDING, THE WIND CAUSED IT TO DRIFT TO THE RIGHT. THE PILOT STARTED TO CORRECT THIS DRIFT, AS THE RAIN BECAME HEAVIER. DURING THE TOUCHDOWN, THE PILOT LOST VISUAL REFERENCE WITH THE RUNWAY, YET HE CONTINUED WITH THE LANDING ROLL. THE AIRPLANE DRIFTED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND RAN INTO SOFT TERRAIN.
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; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 9,450 hours in all; 4,156 in this make and model; 255 in the last 90 days; 65 in the last 30 days; 9,250 as pilot in command; 1,111 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 16,300 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Ge CJ-610-6 (turbojet); 0 hours total
- Operator: New Creations, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: PHL Philadelphia PA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 1, 10,700 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 140° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.