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Atlas / NTSB / ERA14MA271

NTSB CAROL · Event

Event ERA14MA271

2014-05-31 Bedford, Massachusetts, United States Airport · BED Fatal 1 aircraft Status: Completed

Registry · N121JM

FAA Aircraft Registry record.

Make / Model

CESSNA 182T

Year of manufacture

2025

Engine

LYCOMING IO-540-AB1A5 (230 hp)

Seats / Engines

4 seats · 1 engine

Last airworthiness date

20250816

ADS-B equipped

Yes — Mode-S A0583D

Registrant of record

BULLET AVIATION LLC

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The flight crewmembers' failure to perform the flight control check before takeoff, their attempt to take off with the gust lock system engaged, and their delayed execution of a rejected takeoff after they became aware that the controls were locked. Contributing to the accident were the flight crew's habitual noncompliance with checklists, Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation's failure to ensure that the G-IV gust lock/throttle lever interlock system would prevent an attempted takeoff with the gust lock engaged, and the Federal Aviation Administration's failure to detect this inadequacy during the G-IV's certification.

Factual narrative

The Safety Board's full report is available at http://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/AccidentReports.aspx. The Aircraft Accident Report number is NTSB/AAR-15/03. On May 31, 2014, about 2140 eastern daylight time, a Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation G-IV, N121JM, registered to SK Travel, LLC, and operated by Arizin Ventures, LLC, crashed after it overran the end of runway 11 during a rejected takeoff at Laurence G. Hanscom Field, Bedford, Massachusetts. The airplane rolled through the paved overrun area and across a grassy area, collided with approach lights and a localizer antenna, passed through the airport's perimeter fence, and came to a stop in a ravine. The two pilots, a flight attendant, and four passengers died. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and a postcrash fire. The corporate flight, which was destined for Atlantic City International Airport, Atlantic City, New Jersey, was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. An instrument flight rules flight plan was filed. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The Safety Board's full report is available at http://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/AccidentReports.aspx. The Aircraft Accident Report number is NTSB/AAR-15/03. On May 31, 2014, about 2140 eastern daylight time, a Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation G-IV, N121JM, registered to SK Travel, LLC, and operated by Arizin Ventures, LLC, crashed after it overran the end of runway 11 during a rejected takeoff at Laurence G. Hanscom Field, Bedford, Massachusetts. The airplane rolled through the paved overrun area and across a grassy area, collided with approach lights and a localizer antenna, passed through the airport's perimeter fence, and came to a stop in a ravine. The two pilots, a flight attendant, and four passengers died. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and a postcrash fire. The corporate flight, which was destined for Atlantic City International Airport, Atlantic City, New Jersey, was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations  Part 91. An instrument flight rules flight plan was filed. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

Hierarchical cause / factor breakdown from the FAA bulk avdata database. Each finding tagged C (Cause) or F (Factor).

  • C Aircraft-Aircraft systems-Flight control system-Gust lock or damper-Incorrect use/operation
  • C Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Forgotten action/omission-Flight crew
  • C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Use of checklist-Flight crew
  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-(general)-Attain/maintain not possible
  • C Personnel issues-Action/decision-Info processing/decision-Decision making/judgment-Flight crew
  • F Personnel issues-Psychological-Personality/attitude-Complacency-Flight crew
  • C Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Delayed action-Flight crew
  • Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Runway/taxi/approach light-Contributed to outcome
  • Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Tower/antenna (incl guy wires)-Contributed to outcome
  • Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Lack of action-Emergency services personnel
  • Organizational issues-Management-Policy/procedure-Adequacy of policy/proc-Emergency services
  • F Aircraft-Aircraft systems-Flight control system-Gust lock or damper-Design
  • F Organizational issues-Development-Selection/certification/testing-Equip certification/testing-Manufacturer
  • F Organizational issues-Support/oversight/monitoring-Oversight-Oversight of reg compliance-FAA/Regulator

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2014_ERA14MA271.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

Related research

What the literature says.

Academic papers and agency reports matching this event's aircraft type. Sourced from NASA NTRS, NTSB Safety Studies, FAA CAMI, AOPA Air Safety Institute, Embry-Riddle Scholarly Commons, arXiv, and the Semantic Scholar academic graph.

Browse the full corpus — academia portal ↗