Captain Fatally Injured, Four Others Injured

The NTSB released its preliminary report on the accident involving a Gates Learjet 35A on February 10, 2025, at Scottsdale Airport (SDL) in Arizona. The aircraft was substantially damaged while the captain was killed in the accident and four others were injured including an occupant of the parked aircraft that was struck by the accident aircraft.

The flight was operated as a Part 91 corporate flight to transport passengers to Arizona for a local event. The flight originated in Florida and made a refueling stop in Austin, Texas. At about 2:34 pm MST, at 2,800 ft AGL the aircraft turned onto an extended final approach for runway 21 at SDL.

Investigators were able to obtain security camera footage as well as videos recorded by witness cell phone cameras. A video provided by a witness taken from a golf course near the final approach captured the aircraft and it can be seen with its left main landing gear trailing aft from its normal position.

Immediately after the aircraft touched down on the runway it entered a left-wing low attitude and began veering left and exited the runway, traveling over the island between the runway and taxiways.

It crossed taxiway Bravo and entered the ramp area where it struck the right side of a parked Gulfstream G200. The aircraft was not equipped with thrust reversers and the drag chute was not deployed. The aircraft came to rest with its nose embedded between the right side of the Gulfstream’s fuselage and the inboard trailing edge of the right wing.

The engines of the accident airplane continued running until the fire truck arrived to spray foam on the right side engine to shut it down. One passenger was able to egress the aircraft but then went back to assist the other passenger. The captain sustained fatal injuries, the FO and one of the passengers were seriously injured, as was an occupant of the parked Gulfstream, and one passenger had minor injuries.

This is the NTSB’s preliminary report and the purpose is to convey the facts as currently known as the investigation continues. The final report will contain all the facts as subsequently discovered and ascribe a probable cause for the accident.

Relevant details include:

• Location:         Scottsdale, Arizona
• Date & Time:   February 10, 2025, 14.38 Local
• Aircraft:            Gates Learjet Corp. 35A
• Nature:            Part 91, General Aviation – Executive/Corporate
• Accident #:      WPR25FA088
• Registration:    N81VN
• Injuries:           1 Fatal, 3 Serious, 1 Minor

FMI:  www.ntsb.gov/