Narrative:
The airplane crashed and came to rest in a wooded area about 1/2 mile from the departure end of runway 32.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The pilot's failure to maintain a proper climb rate while taking off at night, which was a result of spatial disorientation. Factors in the accident were the low visibility and cloud conditions, and the dark night."
Loss of control
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Friday 24 August 2001 |
| Time: | 05:42 |
| Type: |  Learjet 25 |
| Operator: | Ameristar Jet Charter |
| Registration: | N153TW |
| MSN: | 25-053 |
| First flight: | 1970 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 12486 |
| Engines: | 2 General Electric CJ610-6 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Aircraft fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | 0,8 km (0.5 mls) SE of Ithaca-Tompkins County Airport, NY (ITH) ( United States of America)
|
| Phase: | Initial climb (ICL) |
| Nature: | Cargo |
| Departure airport: | Ithaca-Tompkins County Airport, NY (ITH/KITH), United States of America |
| Jackson-Reynolds Municipal Airport, MI (JXN/KJXN), United States of America |
The airplane crashed and came to rest in a wooded area about 1/2 mile from the departure end of runway 32.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The pilot's failure to maintain a proper climb rate while taking off at night, which was a result of spatial disorientation. Factors in the accident were the low visibility and cloud conditions, and the dark night."
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Classification:
Loss of situational awareness Loss of control
Sources:
» NTSBPhotos
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 Ithaca-Tompkins County Airport, NY to Jackson-Reynolds Municipal Airport, MI as the crow flies is 653 km (408 miles).
Accident location: Exact; as reported in the official accident report.
Distance from Ithaca-Tompkins County Airport, NY to Jackson-Reynolds Municipal Airport, MI as the crow flies is 653 km (408 miles).
Accident location: Exact; as reported in the official accident report.
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.
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