Last updated: 19 September 2021
| Status: | Final |
| Date: | Tuesday 13 January 1998 |
| Time: | 08:10 |
| Type: |  Learjet 25B |
| Operator: | American Corporate Aviation |
| Registration: | N627WS |
| MSN: | 25-170 |
| First flight: | 1974 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 8943 |
| Engines: | 2 General Electric CJ610-6 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Damaged beyond repair |
| Location: | 3,2 km (2 mls) E of Houston-George Bush Intercontinental Airport, TX (IAH) ( United States of America)
|
| Phase: | Approach (APR) |
| Nature: | Ferry/positioning |
| Departure airport: | Houston-William P. Hobby Airport, TX (HOU/KHOU), United States of America |
| Houston-George Bush Intercontinental Airport, TX (IAH/KIAH), United States of America |
Descended below the glideslope during the second runway 26 approach, struck trees and crashed. The first officer's instruments were displaying a false full fly-down glideslope indication because of a failed amplifier in the navigation receiver.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The flight crew's continued descent of the airplane below the glideslope and through the published decision height without visual contact with the runway environment. Also, when the captain encountered difficulty tracking the localizer course, his improper decision to continue the approach by transferring control to the first officer instead of executing a missed approach contributed to the cause. In addition, the following were factors to the accident: (1) American Corporate Aviation's failure to provide an airworthy airplane to the flight crew following maintenance, resulting in a false glideslope indication to the first officer; (2) the flight crew's failure to follow company crew coordination procedures, which called for approach briefings and altitude callouts; and (3) the lack of an FAA requirement for a ground proximity warning system on the airplane. "
Accident investigation:
 |
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Classification:
Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) - Ground
Sources:
» NTSBFollow-up / safety actions
NTSB issued 2 Safety Recommendations
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Photos
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Houston-William P. Hobby Airport, TX to Houston-George Bush Intercontinental Airport, TX as the crow flies is 38 km (24 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
Distance from Houston-William P. Hobby Airport, TX to Houston-George Bush Intercontinental Airport, TX as the crow flies is 38 km (24 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
