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National Transportation Safety Board NTSB ID: CEN10MA088 Aircraft Registration Number: N720RA

FACTUAL REPORT Occurrence Date: 01/05/2010 Most Critical Injury: Fatal

AVIATION Occurrence Type: Accident Investigated By: NTSB

Location/Time
Nearest City/Place State Zip Code Local Time Time Zone
Prospect Heights IL 60070 1328 CST

Airport Proximity: Off Airport/Airstrip Distance From Landing Facility: 2

Aircraft Information Summary

Aircraft Manufacturer Model/Series Type of Aircraft

GATES LEARJET CORP. 35A Airplane

Revenue Sightseeing Flight: No Air Medical Transport Flight: No

Narrative
Brief narrative statement of facts, conditions and circumstances pertinent to the accident/incident:
The following is an INTERIM FACTUAL SUMMARY of this accident investigation. A final report that
includes all pertinent facts, conditions, and circumstances of the accident will be issued upon
completion, along with the Safety Board's analysis and probable cause of the accident.

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On January 5, 2010, at 1328 central standard time, a Learjet 35A, N720RA, operated as Royal Air
Freight flight 988 (RAX 988), was destroyed when it impacted water and terrain while maneuvering to
final approach to runway 34 at Chicago Executive Airport (PWK), Prospect Heights, Illinois. The
captain and first officer sustained fatal injuries. The airplane was owned and operated by Royal
Air Freight, Inc., Waterford, Michigan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of
the accident and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the Title 14 Code of Federal
Regulations Part 91 positioning flight. The flight departed Pontiac, Michigan, at 1335 eastern
standard time.

According to the operator, the airplane was scheduled to pickup cargo at PWK and transport the
cargo to Georgia. The accident flight was the first flight for the flight crew for that day.

Air traffic control communications and radar data revealed the flight was cleared for a visual
approach to runway 16, followed by a right traffic, circle to land approach to runway 34. Radar
data showed the airplane enter a right traffic pattern for approach to runway 34. Several
witnesses observed the airplane on downwind, base leg, and enter a right turn for final approach.
During the right turn to final approach, the airplane was observed to enter a 90-degree bank right
turn, roll inverted, and enter a nose down descent toward terrain.

PERSONNEL INFORMATION

According to the operator, the captain was hired in October 2003, and had accumulated approximately
7,000 total flight hours, and approximately 3,500 hours in Learjets. The first officer was hired
in February 2005, and had accumulated approximately 6,500 total flight hours, and approximately
2,400 hours in Learjets.

METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION

At 1341, the PWK automated surface observing system reported the wind from 330 degrees at 9 knots,
visibility 10 statute miles, few clouds at 6,000 feet, temperature minus 6 degrees Celsius, dew
point minus 11 degrees Celsius, and an altimeter setting of 30.18 inches of Mercury.

WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION

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National Transportation Safety Board NTSB ID: CEN10MA088

FACTUAL REPORT Occurrence Date: 01/05/2010

AVIATION Occurrence Type: Accident

Narrative (Continued)

The airplane wreckage was located approximately 2 miles south of the centerline of runway 34 in the
Des Plaines River. Approximately ¾’s of the airplane was submerged in the river, adjacent to the
river bank. Portions of both wings, fuselage, and empennage came to rest above the river water
line. Fragmented sections of the airplane were located within a surrounding diameter of
approximately 100 feet from the main wreckage.

On January 6th to the 8th, the airplane wreckage was recovered from the river and surrounding
terrain. The airplane wreckage was transported to a secure facility for further examination.

FLIGHT RECORDER INFORMATION

The airplane was equipped with a cockpit voice recorder (CVR) and on January 7th, the airplane CVR
was recovered from the river bottom and sent to the NTSB Vehicle Recorders laboratory for
examination and readout. The recording was analyzed at the NTSB's Recorders Laboratory.

The recording captured the last 30 minutes of the accident flight.

The non-volatile memory (NVM) from the engines' digital electronic engine controls was successfully
downloaded, and no faults were recorded.
Updated on Oct 19 2010 10:44AM

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NTSB ID: CEN10MA088

National Transportation Safety Board

FACTUAL REPORT Occurrence Date: 01/05/2010

AVIATION Occurrence Type: Accident

Landing Facility/Approach Information

Airport Name Airport ID: Airport Elevation Runway Used Runway Length Runway Width

660 Ft. MSL N/A

Runway Surface Type:

Runway Surface Condition:

Approach/Arrival Flown: Visual

VFR Approach/Landing: Traffic Pattern

Aircraft Information
Aircraft Manufacturer Model/Series Serial Number
GATES LEARJET CORP. 35A 156

Airworthiness Certificate(s): Normal

Landing Gear Type: Retractable - Tricycle

Amateur Built Acft? No
Engine Type:
Turbo Fan
- Aircraft Inspection Information
Type of Last Inspection
Number of Seats: 10 Certified Max Gross Wt. 18300 LBS Number of Engines: 2
Engine Manufacturer: Model/Series: Rated Power:
GARRETT TFE 731 SER 3500 HP
Date of Last Inspection Time Since Last Inspection Airframe Total Time

Continuous Airworthiness 10/2009 Hours 15734 Hours

- Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) Information

ELT Installed?/Type Yes / Unknown ELT Operated? Yes ELT Aided in Locating Accident Site? No

Owner/Operator Information
Registered Aircraft Owner Street Address
2141 AIRPORT RD
ROYAL AIR FREIGHT INC City State Zip Code
WATERFORD MI 48327-1207
Street Address
Operator of Aircraft 2141 AIRPORT RD
City State Zip Code
ROYAL AIR FREIGHT INC
WATERFORD MI 48327-1207
Operator Does Business As: Operator Designator Code:
- Type of U.S. Certificate(s) Held:
Air Carrier Operating Certificate(s): On-demand Air Taxi

Operating Certificate: Operator Certificate:

Regulation Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation

Type of Flight Operation Conducted: Positioning

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National Transportation Safety Board NTSB ID: CEN10MA088

FACTUAL REPORT Occurrence Date: 01/05/2010

AVIATION Occurrence Type: Accident

First Pilot Information

Name City State Date of Birth Age

On File On File On File On File 38

Sex: M Seat Occupied: Left Occupational Pilot? Yes Certificate Number: On File

Certificate(s): Airline Transport

Airplane Rating(s): Multi-engine Land; Single-engine Land

Rotorcraft/Glider/LTA: None

Instrument Rating(s): Airplane

Instructor Rating(s): None

Current Biennial Flight Review? 07/2009

Medical Cert.: Class 1 Medical Cert. Status: Without Waivers/Limitations Date of Last Medical Exam: 04/2009

This Make Airplane Airplane Instrument Lighter

All A/C
- Flight Time Matrix and Model Single Engine Mult-Engine
Night
Actual Simulated
Rotorcraft Glider
Than Air

Total Time 7000 3500 5600

Pilot In Command(PIC)

Instructor

Instruction Received

Last 90 Days 236 109

Last 30 Days 68 49
Last 24 Hours

Seatbelt Used? Yes Shoulder Harness Used? Yes Toxicology Performed? Yes Second Pilot? Yes

Flight Plan/Itinerary
Type of Flight Plan Filed: IFR
Departure Point State Airport Identifier Departure Time Time Zone

Pontiac MI PTK 1335 EST

Destination State Airport Identifier

Same as Accident/Incident Location

Type of Clearance: IFR

Type of Airspace:

Weather Information
Source of Wx Information:

Automated Report; Internet

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National Transportation Safety Board NTSB ID: CEN10MA088

FACTUAL REPORT Occurrence Date: 01/05/2010

AVIATION Occurrence Type: Accident

Weather Information
WOF ID Observation Time Time Zone WOF Elevation WOF Distance From Accident Site Direction From Accident Site

PWK 1341 CST 660 Ft. MSL 2 NM 340 Deg. Mag.

Sky/Lowest Cloud Condition: Few 6000 Ft. AGL Condition of Light: Day

Lowest Ceiling: None Ft. AGL Visibility: 10 SM Altimeter: 30.18 "Hg

Temperature: -6 ° C Dew Point: -11 ° C Weather Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions

Wind Direction: 330 Wind Speed: 9 Wind Gusts:

Visibility (RVR): Ft. Visibility (RVV) SM

Precip and/or Obscuration:

Accident Information
Aircraft Damage: Destroyed Aircraft Fire: None Aircraft Explosion None

- Injury Summary Matrix Fatal Serious Minor None TOTAL

First Pilot 1 1
Second Pilot 1 1
Student Pilot

Flight Instructor

Check Pilot

Flight Engineer

Cabin Attendants

Other Crew

Passengers

- TOTAL ABOARD - 2 2
Other Ground

- GRAND TOTAL - 2 2

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NTSB ID: CEN10MA088

National Transportation Safety Board

FACTUAL REPORT Occurrence Date: 01/05/2010

AVIATION Occurrence Type: Accident

Administrative Information
Investigator-In-Charge (IIC)
Aaron M. Sauer

Additional Persons Participating in This Accident/Incident Investigation:

TR Proven
Federal Aviation Administration
Washington, DC

Mark Siebert
Learjet
Wichita, KS

Dana Metz
Honeywell
Phoenix, AZ

Kirt Kostich
Royal Air Freight, Inc.
Waterford, MI

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