Incident Overview
Date: Friday 16 December 1988
Aircraft Type: Learjet 24B
Owner/operator: Crown Center Aviation
Registration Number: N234CM
Location: Cuatro Cinegas –
ÿ Mexico
Phase of Flight: En route
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2
Component Affected: Aircraft cockpit windows.Aircraft cockpit windows.
Category: Accident
A Learjet 24B, carrying NASA astronaut-candidate Susan Reynolds, departed Memphis International Airport, Tennessee, bound for Dallas-Addison Airport, Texas. The aircraft subsequently entered Mexican airspace and continued to fly until its fuel ran out. It then experienced a spin and crashed near Cuatec Cinegas.A Learjet 24B, carrying NASA astronaut-candidate Susan Reynolds, departed Memphis International Airport, Tennessee, bound for Dallas-Addison Airport, Texas. The aircraft subsequently entered Mexican airspace and continued to fly until its fuel ran out. It then experienced a spin and crashed near Cuatec Cinegas.
Description
The Learjet 24B, N234CM, departed Memphis International Airport, TN bound for Dallas-Addison Airport, Texas with two crew aboard, including NASA astronaut-candidate Susan Reynolds. The aircraft continued past Addison and was then intercepted by a U.S. Air Force Northrop T-38 Talon but the pilot was unable to contact the crew. He reported that the cockpit windows appeared to have frost on the inside. The Learjet entered Mexican airspace and flew on until the fuel was exhausted. It entered a spin and crashed near Cuatro Cinegas.
Primary Cause
Fuel exhaustion and spin during flight.Fuel exhaustion and spin during flight.Share on:
