2017 Teterboro Learjet 35 crash

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On May 15, 2017, a Learjet 35A business jet operated by Trans-Pacific Air Charter crashed while on approach to Teterboro Airport, killing both pilots, the only two occupants on board. The aircraft, flying a repositioning flight from Philadelphia International Airport in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Teterboro Airport in Teterboro, New Jersey, was flying a circle-to-land approach to land on Runway 1 when it stalled and crashed into a commercial building and a parking lot.

The investigation, conducted by the National Transportation Safety Board, determined several factors that led to the crash. The captain of the flight allowed the underqualified first officer to be the pilot flying, which was directly against company procedures. Neither flight crew member conducted an approach briefing, which led to a loss of situation awareness and a failure to maintain proper altitude during the approach. During the circle-to-land maneuver — which was conducted on an unstabilized approach and not in guidance with air traffic control instructions – the captain was focused on aligning the aircraft with the runway rather than indications in the cockpit that showed the airspeed was too slow. This resulted in an aerodynamic stall at such a low altitude that the crew was unable to recover.