NTSB Identification: DEN05LA111
Nonscheduled 14 CFR Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Accident occurred Friday, July 15, 2005 in Eagle, CO
Aircraft: Gates Learjet 35A, registration: N620JM
Injuries: 4 Minor.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.
On July 15, 2005, at 0845 mountain daylight time, a Gates Learjet Corporation 35A, N620JM, was substantially damaged when during landing roll the airplane departed the runway at the Eagle-Eagle County Regional Airport (EGE), Eagle, Colorado, collapsed the landing gear, and subsequently caught on fire. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The unscheduled, domestic, on-demand medical transport flight from Aspen, Colorado, to EGE was operating on a visual flight rules flight plan under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 135. The captain, first officer, and 2 passengers, a patient and a flight nurse, sustained minor injuries.
According to tower operator, the airplane touched down normal on runway 29. The operator said the captain said something over the radio, which caused him to look in the direction of the airplane. The tower operator saw the airplane veer off the runway, the main landing gear strip off behind the airplane, and the airplane catch on fire. The tower operator said he saw 4 people get out of the airplane. The airplane's right side fuselage, right engine, right wing, and right tip tank sustained major fire damage. The left and right main landing gear, and nose gear were broken aft.
The wind conditions at the time of the accident were 290 degrees at 4 knots.