Event CHI95LA013

Factual narrative

On October 14, 1994, about 1525 eastern daylight time, a Lear 23 airplane, N20TA, registered to Kalitta Flying Service, dba American International Services, sustained substantial damage when it landed short of the runway threshold at the Tulip City Airport, Holland, Michigan. Neither of the two airline transport certificated pilots aboard were injured. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight departed the Willow Run Airport, Ypsilanti, Michigan, about 1450, and operated in visual meteorological conditions. The Operator reported that the flight crew departed Ypsilanti for Holland to pickup cargo at Holland and return to Ypsilanti. The copilot was flying the airplane. The flight crew was attempting to land "on the numbers" on runway 08 (5,000'x100'). On touchdown, the crew heard a cracking sound, and the airplane veered to the left. The captain took control, applied power and took off. A subsequent fly-by of ground personnel at Tulip City disclosed what appeared to be a leaking left tip fuel tank, and a damaged left main landing gear. The crew elected to return to their home base at Ypsilanti for repairs. During the landing roll at the Willow Run Airport, Ypsilanti, the airplane's left main landing gear collapsed. According to the written report filed by the Operator, an examination of the accident site at Tulip City revealed that the airplane landed short of the runway threshold with approximately 10-15 degrees of right yaw. THE OPERATOR REPORTED THAT THE COPILOT WAS FLYING THE AIRPLANE. FOLLOWING WHAT WAS DESCRIBED AS A NORMAL APPROACH, THE AIRPLANE LANDED SHORT OF THE RUNWAY WITH A 10-15 DEG RIGHT YAW. THE CREW REPORTEDLY HEARD A CRACKING SOUND, AND THE AIRPLANE VEERED TO THE LEFT. THE CAPTAIN TOOK CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AND ABORTED THE LANDING. A SUBSEQUENT FLY-BY DISCLOSED THAT THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR WAS DAMAGED, AND THE LEFT WINGTIP FUEL TANK WAS LEAKING. THE CREW RETURNED TO THEIR HOME AIRPORT FOR REPAIRS, AND DURING LANDING THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12