Human error factor in other Learjet crashes

Records from the National Transportation Safety Board indicate there have been 23 accidents, including eight fatal crashes, involving Learjet 35A models, the same airplane involved in Tuesday's crash since Jan. 1, 2000.

Out of the 23 incidents, 16 were in the United States and under the jurisdiction of the NTSB.

In 14 of the 16 cases, the agency attributed the cause to human error on the part of either pilots, flight crew, air traffic control or a flight instructor.

In the remaining two cases, the crashes occurred because of weather-related problems at airports.

Fatal Learjet 35A incidents include:

• A crash in Groton, Conn., on June 2, 2006, where two people died because the crew failed to monitor altitude.

• A crash in Truckee, Calif., on Dec. 28, 2005, where two people died because the crew did not compensate for winds.

• A crash into mountainous terrain near San Diego, on Oct. 24, 2004, where five died blamed on crew and air traffic control errors.

• A crash in Groton on Aug. 4, 2003, where two died, blamed on crew errors and weather.

• A crash on April 5, 2000, in Marianna, Fla., where three died blamed on pilot error.

There were 69 accidents listed in the same time frame involving multiple models of Learjets.