Lear 36 Down in Ocean off San Diego - Three SOB, All Missing - May 10, 2023

[fholbert]

Date:	10-MAY-2023
Time:	c. 07:55
Type:	Learjet 36A
Owner/operator:	Phoenix Air
Registration:
MSN:
Fatalities:	Fatalities: / Occupants: 3
Aircraft damage:	Aircraft missing
Category:	Accident
Location:	near San Clemente Island, off San Diego, CA - United States of America
Phase:	Initial climb
Nature:	Military
Departure airport:	Port Hueneme-Point Mugu NAS, CA (NTD/KNTD)
Destination airport:
Confidence Rating:	Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources

Narrative:
A Phoenix Air Learjet 36A was presumably destroyed when it crashed into the sea near San Clemente Island, off San Diego, California.

Company picture, may not be this number.

 

[fholbert]

Crews find wreckage where aircraft carrying 3 people crashed off San Clemente Island

Search and rescue crews have found wreckage near where a U.S. Navy contractor’s aircraft with three people aboard crashed off the Channel Islands.

www.latimes.com

 

[schloopy]

I tried pretty hard to get on with those guys, seems like one of the coolest relatively low time gigs around. Hopefully thats not a factor here.

 

[Roger Roger]

Bummer. We have at least one member who used to fly for them

 

[MikeD]

Still remember when they wrecked one just short of the airport during an emergency landing into FAT in 1994 after an inflight fire in the rear fuselage.

 

[MikeD]

KNUW 101453Z 11003KT 10SM FEW010 SCT220 10/09 A3008 RMK AO2 SLP191 T01000094 53000 VISNO
KNUW 101353Z 12004KT 7SM MIFG FEW010 FEW070 SCT220 07/06 A3008 RMK AO2 SLP190 T00670061 VISNO

At the time of the accident, they would’ve been right near KNUC

 

[Cherokee_Cruiser]

Sad


Does anyone know, what's the contractor mission for these Learjets in service to the Navy?

 

[MikeD]

Sad


Does anyone know, what's the mission for these Learjets in service to the Navy?

Aggressor aircraft simulating enemy aircraft or enemy missiles, to Navy ships. Also some have target tow capability in order to provide aerial target tow services for airborne support.

A company out of CRQ used to do this mission for a long time with Lear 35s and MU-2s back in the day.

 

[fholbert]

Reported to be N56PA

 

[luke3]

Those were some of my former coworkers, may they fly west. CA was very experienced and competent, having been with the company for a long time. FO was a relatively new hire after my time so I don't know him or his background. Hopefully they have enough information to carry out a full investigation. I'm very interested in the outcome since this one hits close to home.

They always do these missions as a two ship. The other guys saw it happen in front of them. They're a bit shook up right now rightfully so but can be another great source of information once they are in the right mindset to talk about it.

 

[Wardogg]

Those were some of my former coworkers, may they fly west. CA was very experienced and competent, having been with the company for a long time. FO was a relatively new hire after my time so I don't know him or his background. Hopefully they have enough information to carry out a full investigation. I'm very interested in the outcome since this one hits close to home.

They always do these missions as a two ship. The other guys saw it happen in front of them. They're a bit shook up right now rightfully so but can be another great source of information once they are in the right mindset to talk about it.

Sorry for your loss.

 

[DE727UPS]

KNUC 101556Z 30012KT 10SM BKN016 OVC024 14/10 A3007 RMK AO2 SLP179 T01390100 $
KNUC 101456Z 30013KT 10SM SCT016 OVC024 13/10 A3007 RMK AO2 SLP179 T01330100 53015 $
KNUC 101416Z 30011KT 10SM SCT016 OVC024 13/10 A3005 RMK T01330100
KNUC 101356Z AUTO 30013KT SCT018 OVC024 13/ A3005 RMK AO2 SLP172 T0128 $
KNUC 101256Z AUTO 31014KT FEW020 OVC030 13/ A3004 RMK AO2 SLP169 T0128 $

Edit: I had the wrong identifier in my previous post.

 

[derg]

Still remember when they wrecked one just short of the airport during an emergency landing into FAT in 1994 after an inflight fire in the rear fuselage.

Whenever I go see mom, I think about that one.

 

[///AMG]

Sorry to see it. We used these guys pretty extensively during group sail events in pre-deployment workups. Wonder what was going on that close to the NUC

 

[ahw01]

KNUC 101556Z 30012KT 10SM BKN016 OVC024 14/10 A3007 RMK AO2 SLP179 T01390100 $
KNUC 101456Z 30013KT 10SM SCT016 OVC024 13/10 A3007 RMK AO2 SLP179 T01330100 53015 $
KNUC 101416Z 30011KT 10SM SCT016 OVC024 13/10 A3005 RMK T01330100
KNUC 101356Z AUTO 30013KT SCT018 OVC024 13/ A3005 RMK AO2 SLP172 T0128 $
KNUC 101256Z AUTO 31014KT FEW020 OVC030 13/ A3004 RMK AO2 SLP169 T0128 $

Edit: I had the wrong identifier in my previous post.

Does every AWOS need maintenance these days?

 

[fholbert]

This morning, Los Angeles news reported aircraft declared before the accident.

 

[Inverted]

Weird speed dip and speed up there, with a fairly consistent airspeed with a large altitude loss. Super sad.

 

[CFI A&P]

Fatal accident...
(10/May/2023)
- United States of America :
On May 10, 2023, at about 0750 local time, a Learjet 36A, registered to and operated by Phoenix Air Group LLC, Cartersville, Georgia, N56PA, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident off San Clemente Island, California.
The two pilots and one passenger sustained fatal injuries. The airplane was being operated as flight "FENIX01" under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a public use flight, which originated from Port Hueneme-Point Mugu NAS (NTD/KNTD), California, at about 0723 local time, and was destined to an unknown airport.

A review of the Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) data show that the airplane departed runway 21 at KNTD and began a climbing left turn (south heading) towards 15000. The takeoff, climb, and cruise appear uneventful. At about 0744 local, about 23m30s into the flight, and as the aircraft was flying at 15000 feet, rapid changes in the ground speed were noted on the data. The airplane began a descending left turn toward 8000 feet, this was followed by a right turn. The airplane descended toward 2500 feet, and began another right turn at 2000 feet. The airplane kept descending and data was lost at about 1449 local, at approx 32.8130,-118.4524 cords, southwest off San Clemente Island. The last ADS-B return was at 1100 feet, 267 knots (ground speed), with an average rate of -2000 fpm. The airplane decelerated from 382 knots to 260 knots from the beginning of the left turn to the last ADS-B return.

Unconfirmed reports suggest the aircraft suffered an unknown inflight emergency, which promoted to crew to attempt to land at the San Clemente Island NALF (KNUC), which was located on the other side of the island, about 16.45 miles north of the last ADS-B return. The reports add that control was eventually lost. The wreckage was located and recovered on May 11, 2023.

The accident aircraft, MSN 36-023, was manufactured in 1976. It was powered by two 2 Garrett TFE731 turbofan engines. According to Phoenix Air, the accident aircraft was one of two Learjets participating in a Navy training exercise, and the other aircraft landed safely. Both aircraft were flying in a military restricted area.

- Flightaware:

FENIX01 Flight Tracking and History 10-May-2023 (KNTD - FlightAware

Track FENIX01 flight from Ventura County to San Clemente Island, CA

flightaware.com

- ADS-B:

ADS-B Exchange - track aircraft live

ADS-B Exchange - track aircraft live - aircraft flight history

globe.adsbexchange.com

- Photos: wiki / google earth with ADS-B

 

[FlyingAccountant]

Seems like a weird one. Bird strike maybe? Airframe failure?

 

[Wardogg]

'Smoke or gas' detected in cockpit of contractor Learjet just before deadly crash into ocean

A trailing aircraft saw the accident aircraft's flaps partially deploy at 15,000 feet. Moments later, they saw an unidentified fluid trailing the plane - and then fire.

www.globalair.com