ASN Aircraft accident Learjet 35A N535PC Aspen Airport, CO (ASE)
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Status:Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Date:Wednesday 13 February 1991
Time:17:41
Type:Silhouette image of generic LJ35 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different
Learjet 35A
Operator:Richmor Aviation
Registration: N535PC
MSN: 35A-291
First flight: 1980
Engines: 2 Garrett TFE731-2-2B
Crew:Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2
Passengers:Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1
Total:Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 3
Aircraft damage: Destroyed
Aircraft fate: Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Location:1,6 km (1 mls) N of Aspen Airport, CO (ASE) (   United States of America)
Phase: Approach (APR)
Nature:Domestic Non Scheduled Passenger
Departure airport:Las Vegas-McCarran International Airport, NV (LAS/KLAS), United States of America
Destination airport:Aspen Airport, CO (ASE/KASE), United States of America
Narrative:
While overhead Aspen, the crew requested a right downwind circling approach to runway 15. The airplane was observed in a steep right bank on base leg. It overshot the extended runway centerline and entered a steeper right bank to correct back to the runway centerline. The Learjet stalled and crashed.

Probable Cause:

PROBABLE CAUSE: "The flight crew's failure to maintain airspeed and control of the airplane while maneuvering to land. Contributing factors were the flight crew's execution of an unstabilized approach and the surrounding snow-covered mountainous terrain."

Accident investigation:

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Investigating agency: NTSB
Status: Investigation completed
Duration: 1 year and 10 months
Accident number: DEN91FA043
Download report: Summary report

Classification:
Landing after unstabilized approach
Loss of control

Sources:
» NTSB


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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 Las Vegas-McCarran International Airport, NV to Aspen Airport, CO as the crow flies is 803 km (502 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.
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