Learjet 35 crash, Aug 4, 2003 (2 killed), Groton
Learjet 35 accident on August 4, 2003 near Groton, Connecticut, United States with 2 fatalities. Cause: The first officer's inadvertent retraction of...
- Date: August 4, 2003
- Aircraft: Learjet 35
- Location: Groton, Connecticut, United States
- Fatalities: 2
- Phase of flight: Approach and landing
- Cause: The first officer's inadvertent retraction of the flaps during low-altitude maneuvering, which led to a stall and collision with a residence. The captain's use of excessive bank angle, poor crew coordination and low clouds were contributing factors.
A Learjet 35A on a positioning flight from Farmingdale to Groton made a low-altitude visual approach through low clouds. The captain made a steep turn, and the first officer retracted the flaps during the maneuvering. The jet stalled and struck a house, trees and a second house before coming to rest in a river. Both crew were killed.