On October 25, 1999, when the sky above the United States spread and clearly, a frightening silence fell above the airy space.
The seemingly routine flight has turned into one of the most modern and cool events in the history of aviation. The Learjet 35, a private aircraft bearing significant characters, including the legendary Payne Stewart golfer,
turned from the course and set out on a strange and uncharted journey throughout the continent. At that time, no one is taking place at that time. What began as a routine flight would soon become a tragic story of confusion, unanswered questions, and a deadly descent.
When the military nozzles tried to capture the plane, the fear of what could be played on board was too real to ignore: lost the crew or have already left? The worrying truth would soon appear and reveal the tragic fate of all those on board.
In 1999, an unusual event involved, including Learjet 35, registered as N47BA, developed because it had taken a mysterious journey in the United States. Initially, the flight took off as expected and achieved a specified altitude without any problem. But soon the plane deviated from its course and headed for Dallas and eventually towards Canada.
Despite repeated attempts to contact the plane, there was no answer. As a result, military fighter aircraft were deployed to capture the aircraft, fearingg the potential of the disaster. At that time, however, no one knew that the aircraft residents were either unconscious or dead.
The Learjet 35, a private aircraft, carried several major passengers, including Payne Stewart, a well-knownwn PGA golfer; Robert Fral, former football Quarterback; Van Arden, President of Stewart’s Golf Agency; and Bruce Borland, renowned architect of the golf course. There were also pilots, Michael Kie and Stephanie Bellegarrigue, who were responsible for the routine journey from Orlando Florida to Dallas, Texas. The total number of people on board the aircraft was six.
Learjet 35 launched his journey as usual, leaving Orlando and climbing to an approved travel altitude of 39,000 feet. During the ascent, the pilots made a successful radio contact and confirmed that everything was going smoothly. However, this was the last communication received from the flight.
Six minutes after the last contact, efforts to reach the aircraft failed. Lack of communication made the Air Force hit. Fortunately, the F-16 fighter aircraft in the area was assigned to a visual inspection of the aircraft. Pilot F-16, Colonel Olson, said Learjet 35 flew in a stable way and showed no visible signs of damage. However, due to condensation or ice on the windows of the cockpit, it was not possible to confirm the status of the crew.
As the situation became more and more alarming, there were two other wiretaps, which aroused concerns about the possibility of shooting down the aircraft if it approached the inhabited area. However, official reports later rejected that such a decision was made. Interestingly, Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien later mentioned in his memories that the authorization was given to the use of fatal force if the aircraft entered Canadian airspace, especially if it was a threat to Winnipeg.
The situation turned when Learjet 35 began to run out of fuel. With the remaining four and a half hours of fuel, the aircraft descended quickly and spun uncontrollably towards the ground. Eyewitnesses said the aircraft dropped at almost supersonic speeds. In the end, it crashed in South Dakota aeft behind a massive crater, and completely destroyed the plane.
What really happened during the N47BA flight? After the accident, the investigators concluded that the sudden loss of pressure in the cabin caused the crew. The exact cause of decompression remains unknown, but pilots and passengers have probably fallen unconscious due to lack of oxygen. Hypoxy caused by insufficient oxygen would worsen their cognitive abilities, which would lead to their unconscious state. When the autopilot still works, the plane continues on its course for several hours without human control.
After almost four hours of flying without any crew intervention, 35 crashed. The Black Box recordings did not provide any other insight into the events, leaving the exact timeline of the last moments of the flight unclear. By the time the plane crashed, all residents were either unconscious or dead.
Since then, a memorial has been built on the site of the accident in honor of the victims, including Payne Stewart, which was posthumously introduced into the World Golf Hall of Fame. While the exact details of what happened during the flight may never be fully known, the tragic incident continues to be remembered.
Interestingly, another Learjet 35 experienced a similar fate in an accident in the Eastern Region on 27 December 2021. The aircraft, which attempted a demanding maneuver at low altitude in poor weather conditions, crashed after the power stations and influenced the pepper drive located between El Cajon And lakes. The victims were identified as pilots Douglas James Grande and Julian Jorge Bugaj together with the sisters Christina Ward and Laurie Rose Gentz.
Resources:
“N47BA: Aircraft that flew while everyone inside was probably dead Ifls. Jack Dunhill. 22. May 2023.
“The NTSB report throws a new light on the Learjet accident that killed 4 in the Eastern Region.” San Diego Union-Tribune. Alex Riggins. 11 January 2022.
The tragic story of the N47BA flight serves as a cool reminder of the unpredictable nature of aviation and the devastating consequences of sudden, inexplicable disorders. Despite the heroic efforts to capture the aircraft and prevent further disaster, the loss of pressure in the cabin and the subsequent inability of the crew led to a catastrophic result. While accurate details of what happened remain shrouded in mystery, memorials for victims of accidents, including a renowned golf player Payne Stewart, ensure that their inheritance lasts.
Similarly, the recent Learjet accident in the Eastern Region underlines the ongoing risks associated with the Air Force, which further emphasizes the importance of security protocols and the need for an ongoing investigation of such tragic events. These incidents, albeit deeply sad, continue to inspire an improvement in aviation security to prevent such occurrences in the future.