Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

On June 7, 2012, about 1224 mountain daylight time, a Learjet 60, N500SW, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain and obstructions during landing at Aspen-Pitkin County Airport (ASE), Aspen, Colorado. The two airline transport pilots and the six passengers were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by Performance Aircraft Leasing, Inc. under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, as personal flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed. The airplane departed Opa-Locka Executive Airport (OPF), Miami, Florida, about 1020 eastern daylight time and was destined for ASE.While on a left downwind for a visual approach to runway 15 the tower controller informed N500SW about a Citation that landed about 10 minutes prior and reported low-level wind shear with a 15-knot speed loss on short final, and N500SW acknowledged. During the arrival to ASE the first officer was manipulating the controls and was seated in the left cockpit seat. The captain was seated in the right seat.

While on a left base the first officer used spoilers and maneuvered the airplane in an "S-turn" on final to correct for a too steep approach. Close to touchdown, with airspeed decreasing, and responding to the calls from the captain for "power", the first officer advanced power slightly. Airspeed continued to decrease and the captain called for a "go-around", but the first officer did not add power for a "go-around", and the captain did not take control of the airplane. When the airplane was about 30 feet above ground level (agl) both pilots reported the airplane suddenly "stopped flying" with a simultaneous slight left roll and an immediate impact with terrain.

The airplane impacted to the right of and short of the runway threshold, damaged runway threshold lights, traveled diagonally across the runway, and exited the left side of the runway. It continued moving in the dirt on the left side of the runway and struck obstructions which completely separated the right main landing gear and the right flap and resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. The airplane came to rest upright in the dirt on the right side of the runway about 4,000 feet from the initial impact point and about 400 feet east from the airport fire station. All eight occupants evacuated through the main cabin door. There was a substantial fuel spill but no postimpact fire. Aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) crews responded immediately and laid down a protective blanket of foam on the fuel spill.

A postaccident download of data from the Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System (EGPWS) showed seven warning events had been recorded in the last three minutes before the accident. The first EGPWS warning was for "sink rate" and showed the airplane was in a 3,400 feet per minute descent when at an altitude of about 1,317 feet agl. About 10 seconds before touchdown another EGPWS warning for