Learjet INC 31A accident near Wheatland, Wyoming, February 11, 2012
On February 11, 2012 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Learjet INC 31A, registered N382AL, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Wheatland, Wyoming (Phifer Airfield). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The flight crew’s loss of directional control during landing on an ice- and water-contaminated runway, which resulted in a runway excursion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 11, 2012 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Wheatland, Wyoming · Phifer Airfield · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Learjet INC 31A
- Registration
- N382AL · registry record · serial 192
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The operator reported that, as the airplane neared the destination airport, the flight crew prepared for landing. The runway appeared to have been plowed earlier in the day and was wet with a few patches of snow and ice. After a normal touchdown, the flight crew deployed the thrust reversers and applied brakes in an effort to gradually decelerate. The airplane began to veer to the right side of the runway and would not respond to the pilots' control inputs. The airplane continued off the runway surface traveling about 70 knots. The main landing gear collapsed and punctured the wings. The airplane incurred substantial damage to the right wing. The operator reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surfa › Snow/slush/ice covered › Effect on operation
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surfa › Wet › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 12,541 hours in all; 384 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 5,501 hours in all; 6 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
The aircraft
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Garrett TFE731-2-3B (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: International Jet Services, Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: APA Centennial CO
- Destination: EAN Wheatland WY
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 08, 5,900 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 12°F (-11°C), dew point 9°F (-13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.55 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number WPR12CA101.