2008 South Carolina Learjet 60 crash
Encyclopedia
The 2008 South Carolina Learjet 60 crash occurred just before midnight on September 19, 2008, when a Learjet 60
crashed while taking off from Columbia Metropolitan Airport
in South Carolina
. Weather at the time was cool, dry, and clear. The plane hit runway lights and crashed through the boundary fence, crossing South Carolina Highway 302 (SC 302/Edmund Road/Airport Boulevard), and coming to rest on an embankment by the side of the highway. No one on the ground was hurt, but four of the six people on the plane (including both pilot
s) died in the crash, with the other two, Travis Barker
and Adam Goldstein
, suffering severe burns. The plane was a charter flight taking people who had participated at a free concert in Five Points
earlier that night to Van Nuys, California.
and Adam "DJ AM" Goldstein
. They were the only two to escape the plane and were able to inform first responders that there were four others on the plane. Barker suffered second and third degree burns covering approximately 1/3 of his body.
Pilot Sarah Lemmon, 31, of Anaheim Hills, California and co-pilot James Bland, 52, of Carlsbad, California
both died in the crash. Also dead from the crash were Chris Baker, 29, of Studio City, California, and a security guard, Charles "Che" Still, 25, of Los Angeles.
could perform its initial survey. As a result, runway 11/29 of the Columbia Metropolitan Airport was closed until the morning of September 21. Because the other airport runway, runway 5/23 was also closed for resurfacing, the airport was closed to service. Smaller aircraft were diverted to Columbia Owens Downtown Airport
, while scheduled airline service was canceled for the 20th, affecting approximately 400 passengers.
In addition to the impact on the airport itself, because of time needed to repair fire damage and perform clean up, the stretch of SC 302 where the plane came to rest was closed until 6 a.m. on September 25.
The plane did not carry a flight data recorder
, but during the investigation, the cockpit voice recorder
(CVR) was found. In the recording, the pilot indicates she is reacting to the sound of an apparent tire
blow-out and attempting a rejected takeoff
. Pieces of a tire were found at the crash site.
Both surviving passengers, as well as the estates of the two deceased, filed lawsuits claiming damages from various parties including Learjet, tire manufacturer Goodyear
, and, in at least one case (Goldstein's), against the insurance companies of the dead pilots, not their estates.
Goldstein died on August 28, 2009 of a drug overdose (combination of cocaine and prescription drugs given to him for side effects of the plane crash) in his New York City
apartment.
The NTSB published its report into the accident on July 16, 2010. It concluded that the cause of the accident was two-fold: (i) the tires were severely under-inflated, which resulted in several of them blowing-out during the take-off roll; (ii) the captain aborted the take-off at high speed (144kt). Normal operating procedure for the Learjet 60 is to abort take-off above 80kt only for serious problems that make the aircraft uncontrollable, and never to abort take-off above the "go/no-go" decision speed V1 (which for this particular take-off was 136kt). The co-pilot could be heard on the CVR saying the appropriate "go go go".
Learjet 60
The Learjet 60 is a mid-size cabin, medium range business jet aircraft manufactured by Bombardier Aerospace in Wichita, Kansas, USA. The Learjet 60 is powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada model 305A turbo fan engines producing 4,600 total pounds of thrust. The manufacturer notes the range of the...
crashed while taking off from Columbia Metropolitan Airport
Columbia Metropolitan Airport
Columbia Metropolitan Airport is the main airport for Columbia, South Carolina. The airport lies five miles southwest of Columbia's central business district, in Lexington County.-Airlines and destinations:...
in South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
. Weather at the time was cool, dry, and clear. The plane hit runway lights and crashed through the boundary fence, crossing South Carolina Highway 302 (SC 302/Edmund Road/Airport Boulevard), and coming to rest on an embankment by the side of the highway. No one on the ground was hurt, but four of the six people on the plane (including both pilot
Aviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
s) died in the crash, with the other two, Travis Barker
Travis Barker
Travis Landon Barker is an American musician, producer and entrepreneur, most noted as the drummer for the American pop punk band Blink-182, as well as the alternative rock band +44, the rap rock band The Transplants, and the alternative rock band Box Car Racer. He was a frequent collaborator with...
and Adam Goldstein
Adam Goldstein
Adam Michael Goldstein was an American DJ, remixer, record producer and musician better known as DJ AM. Goldstein was a member of the rock band Crazy Town, co-owner of a management company called Deckstar and worked on albums for Papa Roach, Madonna and Will Smith, among others...
, suffering severe burns. The plane was a charter flight taking people who had participated at a free concert in Five Points
Five Points (Columbia)
Five Points in Columbia, South Carolina is a shopping, restaurant, and nightlife area that attracts customers from the nearby University of South Carolina and throughout the Columbia metropolitan area. It is the center for the city's annual St...
earlier that night to Van Nuys, California.
Victims and survivors
The two survivors of this crash were musicians Travis BarkerTravis Barker
Travis Landon Barker is an American musician, producer and entrepreneur, most noted as the drummer for the American pop punk band Blink-182, as well as the alternative rock band +44, the rap rock band The Transplants, and the alternative rock band Box Car Racer. He was a frequent collaborator with...
and Adam "DJ AM" Goldstein
Adam Goldstein
Adam Michael Goldstein was an American DJ, remixer, record producer and musician better known as DJ AM. Goldstein was a member of the rock band Crazy Town, co-owner of a management company called Deckstar and worked on albums for Papa Roach, Madonna and Will Smith, among others...
. They were the only two to escape the plane and were able to inform first responders that there were four others on the plane. Barker suffered second and third degree burns covering approximately 1/3 of his body.
Pilot Sarah Lemmon, 31, of Anaheim Hills, California and co-pilot James Bland, 52, of Carlsbad, California
Carlsbad, California
-2010:The 2010 United States Census reported that Carlsbad had a population of 105,328. The population density was 2,693.1 people per square mile . The racial makeup of Carlsbad was 87,205 White, 1,379 African American, 514 Native American, 7,460 Asian, 198 Pacific Islander, 4,189 from other...
both died in the crash. Also dead from the crash were Chris Baker, 29, of Studio City, California, and a security guard, Charles "Che" Still, 25, of Los Angeles.
Aftermath
The crash site was left intact until the NTSBNational Transportation Safety Board
The National Transportation Safety Board is an independent U.S. government investigative agency responsible for civil transportation accident investigation. In this role, the NTSB investigates and reports on aviation accidents and incidents, certain types of highway crashes, ship and marine...
could perform its initial survey. As a result, runway 11/29 of the Columbia Metropolitan Airport was closed until the morning of September 21. Because the other airport runway, runway 5/23 was also closed for resurfacing, the airport was closed to service. Smaller aircraft were diverted to Columbia Owens Downtown Airport
Columbia Owens Downtown Airport
Jim Hamilton - L.B. Owens Airport is a county-owned public-use airport located two nautical miles south of the central business district of Columbia, in Richland County, South Carolina, United States. In 2008, the airport was renamed in honor of former airport manager Jim Hamilton...
, while scheduled airline service was canceled for the 20th, affecting approximately 400 passengers.
In addition to the impact on the airport itself, because of time needed to repair fire damage and perform clean up, the stretch of SC 302 where the plane came to rest was closed until 6 a.m. on September 25.
The plane did not carry a flight data recorder
Flight data recorder
A flight data recorder is an electronic device employed to record any instructions sent to any electronic systems on an aircraft. It is a device used to record specific aircraft performance parameters...
, but during the investigation, the cockpit voice recorder
Cockpit voice recorder
A cockpit voice recorder , often referred to as a "black box", is a flight recorder used to record the audio environment in the flight deck of an aircraft for the purpose of investigation of accidents and incidents...
(CVR) was found. In the recording, the pilot indicates she is reacting to the sound of an apparent tire
Tire
A tire or tyre is a ring-shaped covering that fits around a wheel rim to protect it and enable better vehicle performance by providing a flexible cushion that absorbs shock while keeping the wheel in close contact with the ground...
blow-out and attempting a rejected takeoff
Rejected takeoff
A rejected takeoff or RTO is the situation in which it is decided to abort the takeoff of an airplane...
. Pieces of a tire were found at the crash site.
Both surviving passengers, as well as the estates of the two deceased, filed lawsuits claiming damages from various parties including Learjet, tire manufacturer Goodyear
Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company was founded in 1898 by Frank Seiberling. Goodyear manufactures tires for automobiles, commercial trucks, light trucks, SUVs, race cars, airplanes, farm equipment and heavy earth-mover machinery....
, and, in at least one case (Goldstein's), against the insurance companies of the dead pilots, not their estates.
Goldstein died on August 28, 2009 of a drug overdose (combination of cocaine and prescription drugs given to him for side effects of the plane crash) in his New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
apartment.
The NTSB published its report into the accident on July 16, 2010. It concluded that the cause of the accident was two-fold: (i) the tires were severely under-inflated, which resulted in several of them blowing-out during the take-off roll; (ii) the captain aborted the take-off at high speed (144kt). Normal operating procedure for the Learjet 60 is to abort take-off above 80kt only for serious problems that make the aircraft uncontrollable, and never to abort take-off above the "go/no-go" decision speed V1 (which for this particular take-off was 136kt). The co-pilot could be heard on the CVR saying the appropriate "go go go".