KSLN Learjet crash landing
 

I heard that the pilot was Bob Fisher - retired Learjet test pilot. While doing a high speed dive they heard something snap and then lost elevator control. They landed using elevator trim only!

INVESTIGATION INTO PLANE CRASH BEGINS

by Randy Picking

Investigators from the FAA and NTSB are at the Salina Municipal airport
Wednesday beginning to look for clues as to what may have caused a Learjet
with 2 people on board to crash short of the runway of the airport Tuesday
afternoon. The FAA in Wichita says the plane took off from the Newton
Airport for flight testing by Avcon Industries in Newton. The flight plan had the
testing being done in the Salina area. The pilot radioed into the tower
about ten minutes before the crash to report a problem. Todd Fox is the lead
investigator for the National Transportation Safety Board and tells KSAL
news that officials are keeping the scene secure and looking for causes. The
names of the pilots on board have not been released. They were taken to Salina
Regional Health Center with what are believed to be non life threatening
injuries.

http://www.ksal.com/news/Pictures/5_planecrashb.jpg

http://www.ksal.com/news/Pictures/5_planecrashc.jpg

http://www.ksal.com/news/Pictures/5_planecrashd.jpg

http://www.ksal.com/news/Pictures/5_planee.jpg

Very glad to hear that everybody got out more or less okay.

It's occasionally debated whether the FAR/JAR-23 requirement that aircraft must be landable on the elevator trim if the primary pitch control fails, was really needed. Well, that seems to conclude the debate.

G