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National Transportation Safety Board NTSB ID: DEN04LA138 Aircraft Registration Number: N47MR

FACTUAL REPORT Occurrence Date: 09/04/2004 Most Critical Injury: None

AVIATION Occurrence Type: Accident Investigated By: NTSB

Location/Time
Nearest City/Place State Zip Code Local Time Time Zone
Colorado Spring CO 80903 1350 MDT

Airport Proximity: On Airport/Airstrip Distance From Landing Facility: 0.5

Aircraft Information Summary

Aircraft Manufacturer Model/Series Type of Aircraft

Gates Learjet 25B Airplane

Revenue Sightseeing Flight: No Air Medical Transport Flight:

Narrative
Brief narrative statement of facts, conditions and circumstances pertinent to the accident/incident:
On September 4, 2004, at approximately 1350 mountain daylight time, a Gates Learjet 25B, N47MR,
operated by American Jets, Inc., was substantially damaged when both tires blew during the takeoff
roll from City of Colorado Springs Municipal Airport (COS), Colorado Springs, Colorado. Visual
meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The lifeguard flight was being
operated on an instrument flight rules flight plan, under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 135.
The pilot, co-pilot, two crew members and a passenger reported no injuries. The cross-country
flight was originating at the time of the accident and was en route to Memphis, Tennessee.

According to the accident report submitted by the operator, during the takeoff roll, the airplane
began to vibrate on the right side and then the right tire blew. The left tire blew shortly
thereafter. In a statement made by the co-pilot, the "captain maintained directional control" and
the drag chute was deployed. The airplane came to rest at the departure end of runway 17L. A
postaccident investigation revealed that metal from the landing gear penetrated the wings and the
fuselage was wrinkled. An examination of the airplane systems revealed no anomalies. The reason for
the tire failure was not determined.

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NTSB ID: DEN04LA138

National Transportation Safety Board

FACTUAL REPORT Occurrence Date: 09/04/2004

AVIATION Occurrence Type: Accident

Landing Facility/Approach Information

Airport Name Airport ID: Airport Elevation Runway Used Runway Length Runway Width
City Of Colorado Springs Muni COS 6184 Ft. MSL 17L 13500 150

Runway Surface Type: Asphalt

Runway Surface Condition: Dry

Approach/Arrival Flown: NONE

VFR Approach/Landing: None

Aircraft Information
Aircraft Manufacturer Model/Series Serial Number
Gates Learjet 25B 101

Airworthiness Certificate(s): Normal

Landing Gear Type: Retractable - Tricycle

Amateur Built Acft? No Number of Seats: 8 Certified Max Gross Wt. 15000 LBS Number of Engines: 2
Engine Type: Engine Manufacturer: Model/Series: Rated Power:
Turbo Jet General Electric CJ-610-6 2950 LBS
- Aircraft Inspection Information
Type of Last Inspection Date of Last Inspection Time Since Last Inspection Airframe Total Time

AAIP 08/2004 75.9 Hours Hours

- Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) Information

ELT Installed?/Type Yes / ELT Operated? No ELT Aided in Locating Accident Site? No

Owner/Operator Information
Registered Aircraft Owner Street Address
550 East Airport Avenue
American Aircraft Sales City State Zip Code
Venice FL 34285
Street Address
Operator of Aircraft 2950 Curtis King Blvd
City State Zip Code
American Jets, Inc.
Fort Pierce FL 34946
Operator Does Business As: Operator Designator Code: SUZA
- Type of U.S. Certificate(s) Held:
Air Carrier Operating Certificate(s): On-demand Air Taxi

Operating Certificate: Operator Certificate:

Regulation Flight Conducted Under: Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Type of Flight Operation Conducted: Non-scheduled; Domestic; Passenger Only

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National Transportation Safety Board NTSB ID: DEN04LA138

FACTUAL REPORT Occurrence Date: 09/04/2004

AVIATION Occurrence Type: Accident

First Pilot Information

Name City State Date of Birth Age

On File On File On File On File 50

Sex: M Seat Occupied: Left Occupational Pilot? Civilian Pilot Certificate Number: On File

Certificate(s): Airline Transport

Airplane Rating(s): Multi-engine Land; Single-engine Land

Rotorcraft/Glider/LTA: None

Instrument Rating(s): Airplane

Instructor Rating(s): Airplane Multi-engine

Current Biennial Flight Review?

Medical Cert.: Class 1 Medical Cert. Status: Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim. Date of Last Medical Exam: 07/2004

This Make Airplane Airplane Instrument Lighter

All A/C
- Flight Time Matrix and Model Single Engine Mult-Engine
Night
Actual Simulated
Rotorcraft Glider
Than Air

Total Time 21744 4506 3085 18703 6912

Pilot In Command(PIC) 18727 3896 3055 17975 6213
Instructor 3390 389 3001 389 609
Instruction Received

Last 90 Days 109 109 109 14

Last 30 Days 35 35 109 4
Last 24 Hours 5 5 5
Seatbelt Used? Yes Shoulder Harness Used? Yes Toxicology Performed? No Second Pilot? Yes

Flight Plan/Itinerary
Type of Flight Plan Filed: IFR
Departure Point State Airport Identifier Departure Time Time Zone

Same as Accident/Incident Location COS 1350 MDT

Destination State Airport Identifier

MEMPHIS TN MEM

Type of Clearance: IFR

Type of Airspace: Class C

Weather Information
Source of Wx Information:

Unknown

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National Transportation Safety Board NTSB ID: DEN04LA138

FACTUAL REPORT Occurrence Date: 09/04/2004

AVIATION Occurrence Type: Accident

Weather Information
WOF ID Observation Time Time Zone WOF Elevation WOF Distance From Accident Site Direction From Accident Site

COS 1354 MDT 6184 Ft. MSL 1 NM 350 Deg. Mag.

Sky/Lowest Cloud Condition: Few 6000 Ft. AGL Condition of Light: Dawn

Lowest Ceiling: Broken 11000 Ft. AGL Visibility: 10 SM Altimeter: 30.02 "Hg

Temperature: 22 ° C Dew Point: 10 ° C Weather Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions

Wind Direction: 110 Wind Speed: 8 Wind Gusts:

Visibility (RVR): Ft. Visibility (RVV) SM

Precip and/or Obscuration:

Accident Information
Aircraft Damage: Substantial Aircraft Fire: None Aircraft Explosion None

- Injury Summary Matrix Fatal Serious Minor None TOTAL

First Pilot 1 1
Second Pilot 1 1
Student Pilot

Flight Instructor

Check Pilot

Flight Engineer

Cabin Attendants

Other Crew 2 2
Passengers 1 1
- TOTAL ABOARD - 5 5
Other Ground

- GRAND TOTAL - 5 5

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NTSB ID: DEN04LA138

National Transportation Safety Board

FACTUAL REPORT Occurrence Date: 09/04/2004

AVIATION Occurrence Type: Accident

Administrative Information
Investigator-In-Charge (IIC)
David C. Bowling

Additional Persons Participating in This Accident/Incident Investigation:

Jim Jellison
Denver Flight Standards District Office
Denver, CO

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