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:
Track FENIX01 flight from Ventura County to San Clemente Island, CA
flightaware.com
- ADS-B:
ADS-B Exchange - track aircraft live - aircraft flight history
globe.adsbexchange.com
- Photos: wiki / google earth with ADS-B