Landing Gear Failure Blamed in Fatal Ground Collision in Scottsdale

The accident occurred around 2:39 p.m. MST when airport officials said a Learjet 35A arriving from Austin, Texas, veered off the runway and struck a parked Gulfstream G200.

“According to initial reports, the Learjet’s main left landing gear failed upon landing leading to the collision," said Kelli Kuester, the airport's public information officer.

According to the FAA, four people were on board the Learjet and one person was on board the Gulfstream, which was parked at Jet Pros LLC, a private business. According to officials, the Learjet is registered to Chromed in Hollywood Inc. and is owned by Motley Crue lead singer Vince Neil. There were two pilots and two passengers aboard the aircraft, however, Neil was not among them. The parked Gulfstream G200 is registered to Israel Aircraft Industries, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said. 

One person was dead on arrival at the hospital, two others were transported with critical injuries, and another had non-life-threatening injuries, Captain Dave Folio, spokesperson for the Scottsdale Fire Department, said during a media briefing Monday. One person refused medical treatment. Folio said that one person was temporarily trapped in the wreckage. He did not indicate which aircraft the person had been aboard.

The airport was closed for several hours after the accident. 

NTSB is leading the investigation, working closely with local officials and the FAA.

Scottsdale Airport opened in June1942 as Thunderbird Field II, a primary training facility for Army Air Corps pilots. The city of Scottsdale took over sponsorship of the airport in 1966. 

The airport has a single Runway 03/21, measuring 8,249 feet long by 100 feet wide. The airport is frequently used by corporate jets.