NTSB Scrutinizes Landing Gear in Learjet Accident in Arizona

Video showed that the left main landing gear of a Learjet 35A was trailing and not in the down-and-locked position, according to a report.

Monday, March 03, 2025 at 12:09 PM ET

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Video excerpts showing the landing rollout to impact during the February 10 accident at Scottsdale Airport (KSDL) in Arizona. [Credit: NSTB]

Key Takeaways:

Federal investigators are focusing on landing gear failure as the probable cause of a fatal ground collision at Scottsdale Airport, where a Learjet veered off the runway and struck a parked Gulfstream G200.
Video evidence shows the Learjet's left main landing gear was trailing and not in the down-and-locked position during approach, leading to a left-wing strike upon touchdown and subsequent loss of control.
The NTSB's preliminary report indicates the left main landing gear had a missing aft trunnion pin and improperly secured components, with an excessive amount of grease found in the area.
The accident aircraft and its flight crew were involved in a previous hard landing mishap in June 2024, and a mechanic noted an unusual amount of grease was required for the left landing gear during servicing in December.

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Federal accident investigators are focusing on landing gear failure as a possible factor that led to the death of one person and injured three others when two business jets collided on the ground at Scottsdale Airport (KSDL) in Arizona last month.

The February 10 accident occurred around 2:39 p.m. MST during VFR conditions when a Learjet 35A arriving from Austin, Texas, veered off the runway and struck a parked Gulfstream G200.

Meg Godlewski

Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.