Investigation Summary
The investigation revealed a chain of maintenance and operational failures. The aircraft's tires had not been pressure-checked for approximately three weeks, despite Learjet 60 tires typically losing 2% of their pressure daily. This underinflation led to internal heat buildup and structural failure during the high-speed takeoff roll. When the tires disintegrated, debris severed hydraulic lines, resulting in a loss of braking capability. Furthermore, the debris struck the air/ground sensor, locking it in 'air' mode. This prevented the thrust reversers from functioning as intended. Instead, the engines produced forward thrust even as the pilots pulled the reverse levers. The NTSB also highlighted a design deficiency in the thrust reverser system that had been identified after a similar 2001 accident in Horicon, Wisconsin, involving a Learjet 60 (N600J) that also experienced uncommanded forward thrust, but the issue was never adequately corrected by Learjet or the FAA. The captain's decision to abort after V1 was contrary to standard operating procedures, which dictate that a takeoff should continue after V1 unless the aircraft is incapable of flight.
Final Conclusions
The NTSB determined the probable cause was the operator's inadequate maintenance of the airplane's tires and the captain's execution of a rejected takeoff after V1. Contributing factors included deficiencies in the Learjet 60 thrust reverser system design and FAA certification, which allowed wheel well damage to result in uncommanded forward thrust, and poor crew resource management.
Video Analysis
Runway Overrun During Rejected Takeoff - Learjet Columbia South Carolina 2008 — Official NTSB sunshine meeting presentation detailing the investigation into the Learjet 60 crash involving Travis Barker and DJ AM.
If playback is blocked, the owner has disabled embedding — use the link above.
Airframe & Maintenance
Crew Experience
Captain
Only 8 hours as PIC on type.
First Officer
Systems & Failure Modes
Thrust Reverser System
Designed to provide decelerative force, but due to a damaged air/ground sensor, the system permitted uncommanded forward thrust during the abort sequence.
Air/Ground Sensor
A sensor in the wheel well that detects if the aircraft is on the ground; debris from the tire failure damaged this sensor, causing it to signal 'air' mode while the jet was on the runway.
Hydraulic System
Tire debris severed hydraulic lines in the wheel well, leading to a total loss of normal wheel braking.
Interesting Facts
- 01The aircraft had only 108.5 flight hours and 123 cycles at the time of the accident.
- 02The captain had only 35 hours of experience on the Learjet 60, with only 8 hours as PIC on the type.
- 03Tire pressure had not been checked for approximately three weeks prior to the flight.
- 04The V1 speed for the takeoff was 136 knots, but the abort was initiated at 144 knots.
- 05Survivors Travis Barker and Adam Goldstein (also known as DJ AM) escaped the burning wreckage with critical injuries.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Tire Pressure Monitoring
The NTSB recommended the FAA require tire pressure monitoring systems for all transport-category aircraft to prevent underinflation-related failures.
Thrust Reverser Design Review
Recommendations were made to Learjet and the FAA to redesign the thrust reverser system to prevent uncommanded forward thrust in the event of wheel well damage.