ASN Aircraft accident Gulfstream American G-1159 Gulfstream II N117FJ New York-La Guardia Airport, NY (LGA)
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Status:Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Date:Tuesday 25 March 1997
Time:05:10
Type:Silhouette image of generic GLF2 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different
Gulfstream American G-1159 Gulfstream II
Operator:PAB Aviation
Registration: N117FJ
MSN: 229
First flight: 1978
Engines: 2 Rolls-Royce Spey 511
Crew:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2
Passengers:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2
Total:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 4
Aircraft damage: Damaged beyond repair
Location:New York-La Guardia Airport, NY (LGA) (   United States of America)
Phase: Landing (LDG)
Nature:Executive
Departure airport:Allentown-Lehigh Valley International Airport, PA (ABE/KABE), United States of America
Destination airport:New York-La Guardia Airport, NY (LGA/KLGA), United States of America
Narrative:
At about 04:30 EST, ground personnel in 'Vehicle 1277' were cleared on runway 13/31 at New York-La Guardia Airport, NY (LGA) to perform 'lighting maintenance.' Later, during repair of centerline lights, when Gulfstream II N117FJ was inbound to the airport, Vehicle 1277 stalled on runway 13/31. Personnel of Vehicle 1277 attempted to restart the vehicle, but were unable, so they shut off all vehicle lights to reduce electrical load, and again attempted to restart the vehicle, but to no avail.
At 05:06:57, N117FJ contacted the controller and advised that they were inbound. At 05:07:03, the controller acknowledged and cleared the airplane to land on runway 31. At 05:09:50, another maintenance vehicle, vehicle 51, radioed, "LaGuardia ground, vehicle five one to cross runway three one at the intersection." The controller radioed "five one hold short", and at 05:10, vehicle 51 advised, "five one holding." At 05:10:27, vehicle 1277 radioed, "uh twelve seven seven we're stuck on the runway, we're stuck on the runway." The controller then radioed at 05:10:32, "go-around, aircraft on the runway go-around, aircraft on the runway go-around, seven fox juliet go-around." Moments later, N117FJ impacted Vehicle 1277.

Probable Cause:

PROBABLE CAUSE: "The tower controller's inadequate service by clearing the airplane to land on the same runway, where he had previously cleared a maintenance vehicle to perform maintenance to the runway centerline lights. Factors related to the accident were: darkness, partial failure of the runway centerline lights, the electric maintenance vehicle's loss of engine power, and a failure to have adequate emergency back up lighting."

Accident investigation:

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Investigating agency: NTSB
Status: Investigation completed
Duration: 1 year and 5 months
Accident number: NYC97FA062
Download report: Summary report

Classification:
Collision with vehicle
Runway mishap

Sources:
» NTSB


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Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Allentown-Lehigh Valley International Airport, PA to New York-La Guardia Airport, NY as the crow flies is 132 km (82 miles).

This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
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