SB-06-64

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 20, 2006 SB-06-64

NTSB RELEASES FINAL REPORT ON CRASH OF CORPORATE JET IN HOUSTON

The National Transportation Safety Board has released its final report on the crash of a corporate jet in Houston in 2004 that killed three crewmembers. The plane was on its way to pick up former President George H.W. Bush for a flight to Ecuador when it crashed. The two pilots and a flight attendant were the only persons aboard the plane when it crashed.

On November 22, 2004, a Gulfstream G-1159A (N85VT), operated by Business Jet Services Ltd., struck a light pole and crashed about 3 miles southwest of William P. Hobby Airport in Houston while on an instrument landing system approach to runway 4.

The Safety Board determined that the probable cause of the crash was the flight crew's failure to adequately monitor and cross check the flight instruments during the approach. Contributing to the accident was the flight crew's failure to select the instrument landing system frequency in a timely manner and to adhere to approved company approach procedures, including the stabilized approach criteria.

"It is imperative that flight crews maintain their vigilance constantly during all phases of flight," NTSB Chairman Mark V. Rosenker said. "The circumstances of this accident support the Board's effort to have the Federal Aviation Administration include mandatory crew resource management training in Part 135 operations. This issue was added to the Board's Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety Improvements last week."

The complete accident report is on the NTSB's web site and may be accessed at the following link: http://www.ntsb.gov/publictn/publictn.htm, go to Most Recent Aviation Accidents.

NTSB Press Contact: Ted Lopatkiewicz (202) 314-6100
lopatt@ntsb.gov

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