1996 New Hampshire Learjet crash
Encyclopedia
The 1996 New Hampshire Learjet crash involved a Learjet 35A which disappeared on Christmas Eve 1996
near Dorchester, New Hampshire
. The crash created the longest missing aircraft search in the state's history, lasting almost three years. Media attention eventually resulted in Congressional legislation mandating improved emergency locator transmitters (ELTs) be installed in U.S.-registered business jets.
N388LS, was operated by the Aircraft Charter Group and flown by pilots Johan Schwartz and Patrick Hayes on a repositioning flight. They left Sikorsky Memorial Airport
in Bridgeport, Connecticut
, at 09:19am and 25 minutes later were flying the approach into Lebanon, New Hampshire. After one attempt at the ILS approach
, the crew reported that they couldn't get the localizer
, when they were actually several miles off course. They presumed ground equipment failure, and the pilot told the tower that he was executing a missed approach
. The aircraft's last radar contact was as it proceeded outbound, seven nautical miles (13 km) northeast of the VOR
, at 4800 ft (1,463 m). It was raining and foggy at the time.
Searches were mounted, unsuccessfully. The wreckage was found near Smarts Mountain
almost three years later, on November 13, 1999, about 20 miles (32.2 km) from the airport. Debris was spread over a 150 yards (137.2 m) area in dense forest. The aircraft had descended into the ground 10.3 nautical miles (19.1 km) earlier than normal.
The cause of the accident was listed as:
Part 135 charter operations, was exempt from the Federal requirements for this type of beacon. As a result, Congress directed the FAA to require the installation of 406 MHz ELTs in all business jets (replacing the 121.5Mhz units installed in some).
1996 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1996:-February:* February 6 – Turkish charter company Birgenair Flight 301 crashes in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic after takeoff...
near Dorchester, New Hampshire
Dorchester, New Hampshire
Dorchester is a town in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 355 at the 2010 census.-History:Originally granted by Governor Benning Wentworth in 1761, Dorchester was named for Dorchester in Dorset, England. When the recipients failed to take up the grant, it was...
. The crash created the longest missing aircraft search in the state's history, lasting almost three years. Media attention eventually resulted in Congressional legislation mandating improved emergency locator transmitters (ELTs) be installed in U.S.-registered business jets.
Crash information
The aircraft involved, registrationAircraft registration
An aircraft registration is a unique alphanumeric string that identifies a civil aircraft, in similar fashion to a licence plate on an automobile...
N388LS, was operated by the Aircraft Charter Group and flown by pilots Johan Schwartz and Patrick Hayes on a repositioning flight. They left Sikorsky Memorial Airport
Sikorsky Memorial Airport
Igor I. Sikorsky Memorial Airport , formerly known as Bridgeport Municipal Airport, is a public airport located in Stratford, three miles southeast of the central business district of Bridgeport, in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States...
in Bridgeport, Connecticut
Bridgeport, Connecticut
Bridgeport is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Connecticut. Located in Fairfield County, the city had an estimated population of 144,229 at the 2010 United States Census and is the core of the Greater Bridgeport area...
, at 09:19am and 25 minutes later were flying the approach into Lebanon, New Hampshire. After one attempt at the ILS approach
Instrument Landing System
An instrument landing system is a ground-based instrument approach system that provides precision guidance to an aircraft approaching and landing on a runway, using a combination of radio signals and, in many cases, high-intensity lighting arrays to enable a safe landing during instrument...
, the crew reported that they couldn't get the localizer
Localizer
In aviation, a localizer is one of the components of an Instrument Landing System , and it provides runway centerline guidance to aircraft. In some cases, a course projected by localizer is at an angle to the runway . It is then called a Localizer Type Directional Aid...
, when they were actually several miles off course. They presumed ground equipment failure, and the pilot told the tower that he was executing a missed approach
Missed approach
Missed approach is an instrument flight rules procedure which is a standard component segment of an instrument approach. Generally, if the pilot flying or the pilot in command determines by the time the aircraft is at the decision height or missed approach point , that the runway or its...
. The aircraft's last radar contact was as it proceeded outbound, seven nautical miles (13 km) northeast of the VOR
VHF omnidirectional range
VOR, short for VHF omnidirectional radio range, is a type of radio navigation system for aircraft. A VOR ground station broadcasts a VHF radio composite signal including the station's identifier, voice , and navigation signal. The identifier is typically a two- or three-letter string in Morse code...
, at 4800 ft (1,463 m). It was raining and foggy at the time.
Searches were mounted, unsuccessfully. The wreckage was found near Smarts Mountain
Smarts Mountain
Smarts Mountain is a mountain located in Grafton County, New Hampshire. Smarts is flanked to the north by Mount Cube, at , and to the southwest by Holts Ledge, at . Although of only moderate elevation, Smarts is separated from the southwestern White Mountains by Oliverian Notch, a fairly low pass...
almost three years later, on November 13, 1999, about 20 miles (32.2 km) from the airport. Debris was spread over a 150 yards (137.2 m) area in dense forest. The aircraft had descended into the ground 10.3 nautical miles (19.1 km) earlier than normal.
The cause of the accident was listed as:
ELT implications
The crashed aircraft had no ELT on board, as that class of aircraft when used for FARFederal Aviation Regulations
The Federal Aviation Regulations, or FARs, are rules prescribed by the Federal Aviation Administration governing all aviation activities in the United States. The FARs are part of Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations...
Part 135 charter operations, was exempt from the Federal requirements for this type of beacon. As a result, Congress directed the FAA to require the installation of 406 MHz ELTs in all business jets (replacing the 121.5Mhz units installed in some).