Crash of a Learjet 24B in Helendale: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 23, 2003 at 0913 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N600XJ
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Chino – Hailey
MSN:
24-190
YOM:
1969
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
11783
Captain / Total hours on type:
7900.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
250
Copilot / Total hours on type:
24
Aircraft flight hours:
9438
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed controlled flight and crashed near Helendale, California. The captain and the first officer were killed, and the airplane was destroyed. The flight was operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 912 from San Bernardino County Airport (CNO), Chino, California, to Friedman Memorial Airport, Hailey, Idaho. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated on an instrument flight rules flight plan. A review of radar data and air traffic control (ATC) transcripts revealed that the flight departed CNO about 0858 and was cleared to climb to an altitude of 29,000 feet mean sea level (msl). About 0909:55, as the airplane was climbing through an altitude of 26,000 feet, the first officer requested a return to CNO. About 0910:01, the controller asked the first officer if he needed to declare an emergency, and the first officer replied that he did not. The controller then directed the flight crew to maintain an altitude of 24,000 feet. Mode C information for the flight showed that, from about 0910:12 to about 0910:59, the airplane descended from 26,500 to 24,000 feet at a rate of about 2,000 feet per minute (fpm). About 0911:08, the controller cleared the flight directly to HECTOR (a navigation fix) and asked the first officer to confirm that the airplane was in level flight at an altitude of 24,000 feet. The first officer did not respond. Radar data showed the airplane descending through 23,000 feet at a rate of about 6,500 fpm about that time. About 0911:24, while the airplane was descending at a rate of about 10,000 fpm, the first officer stated, “we’re declaring an emergency now.” No further transmissions were received from the airplane. No radar data were available after about 0911:35. Starting about 0911:47, mode C information was invalid. The airplane impacted high desert terrain (an elevation of 3,350 feet) about 3 miles southeast of Helendale. The accident site was located about 46 nautical miles (nm) north of CNO. A witness to the accident, who was located about 4.5 miles northwest of the accident site, stated that, after hearing the sound of a jet flying high overhead, he looked up and observed the accident airplane flying straight and level below a high, overcast cloud layer. He stated that the airplane then pitched “nose down a little” and “straightened again.” He also stated that, shortly thereafter, he observed the airplane’s nose pitch “straight down” until it impacted terrain. The witness reported that he did not notice whether the airplane was rotating about its longitudinal axis during the descent, but he did indicate that the airplane appeared to be intact without any components separating from the airplane during the descent. The witness added that he did not observe any smoke or fire before the airplane impacted terrain and that the airplane exploded into a “mushroom cloud” when it impacted terrain. San Bernardino County firefighters, who were performing controlled burns near the accident site, reported hearing an explosion about the time of the accident. The firefighters reported that they looked toward the direction of the explosion and saw a rising smoke cloud. None of the firefighters observed the airplane before the sound of the explosion. The firefighters drove to the accident site and were the first to arrive there. The firefighters extinguished small fires that had erupted as a result of the crash.
Probable cause:
A loss of airplane control for undetermined reasons.
Final Report:

Crash of a Swearingen SA226T Merlin III in Chino

Date & Time: Sep 18, 1995 at 0624 LT
Registration:
N693PG
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Apple Valley - Chino
MSN:
T-207
YOM:
1970
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
3282
Captain / Total hours on type:
346.00
Aircraft flight hours:
5218
Circumstances:
During arrival at dawn, the pilot contacted Approach Control about 22 miles from the airport at 8,500 feet and requested an ILS runway 26 approach. The ATIS was reporting 1/8 mile visibility with fog; the minimum published visibility for the ILS landing was 3/4 mile. The controller vectored the aircraft so that it intercepted the ILS localizer at the outer marker at an intercept angle that was 5 degrees greater than the maximum allowable intercept of 30 degrees. The intercept point should have been at least 3 miles further away from the airport. The aircraft was 650 feet above the ILS glideslope at the outer marker (which was outside the ILS glideslope parameter). Instead of making a missed approach, the pilot elected to continue the ILS. As he attempted to intercept the glideslope from above, the airplane entered a high rate of descent and passed through the glideslope. The pilot was arresting the descent, when the airplane collided with level terrain about 1,000 feet short of the runway. After the accident, at 0646 edt, the visibility was 1/16 mile with fog.
Probable cause:
The pilot's improper IFR procedure by not initiating a missed approach at the outer marker, by attempting to intercept the glideslope from above after passing the outer marker, and by allowing the airplane to continue descending after reaching the decision height. Factors relating to the accident were: the adverse weather condition, and the approach controller's improper technique in vectoring the airplane onto the ILS localizer.
Final Report:

Crash of a Learjet 23 at March AFB: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 30, 1988 at 1140 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N745F
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Wichita – Tucson – Chino
MSN:
23-077
YOM:
1965
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
6800
Circumstances:
After landing at the aircraft's manufacturer facility with an asymmetric fuel condition and an inoperative yaw damper the crew elected to continue the flight to their destination without correcting the deficiencies. Enroute the captain informed air traffic controllers that he had fuel coming from one tank and that he doubted that had fuel available to reach his destination. The controller cleared the aircraft to land at a March AFB, the nearby airport. As the aircraft turned onto the final approach it rolled inverted and impacted the ground inverted short of runway 32. Both pilots were killed.
Probable cause:
The pilot decided to conduct his flight with known aircraft deficiencies. Induced company pressure to deliver the aircraft to its destination is considered to have been a factor in the accident.
Findings:
Occurrence #1: loss of control - in flight
Phase of operation: approach - vfr pattern - base leg/base to final
Findings
1. (f) autopilot/flight director - inoperative
2. (c) operation with known deficiencies in equipment - attempted - pilot in command
3. (f) fuel system, transfer pump - inoperative
----------
Occurrence #2: in flight collision with terrain/water
Phase of operation: approach - vfr pattern - final approach
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45G Expeditor into Lake Elsinore: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 11, 1978 at 1505 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N63H
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Lake Elsinore - Chino
MSN:
AF-344
YOM:
1953
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
1800
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Lake Elsinore-Skylark Field, while climbing, the airplane suffered an engine failure. It lost height and crashed into Lake Elsinore, few hundred yards offshore. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
Stall and crash during initial climb following an engine failure for undetermined reasons and because the pilot failed to follow approved procedures.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas A-26A Invader in Chino

Date & Time: Feb 9, 1978 at 1300 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N99218
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Mojave - Chino
MSN:
18796
YOM:
1943
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
10000
Captain / Total hours on type:
1200.00
Circumstances:
On final approach to Chino Airport, the crew lost control of the airplane that crashed short of runway threshold. The aircraft was destroyed and both pilots were seriously injured. They were completing a ferry flight from Mojave.
Probable cause:
Loss of control on final approach after the n°2 propeller went into reverse thrust for undetermined reasons. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Thrust reversal unwanted,
- Material failure.
Final Report:

Crash of a Stinson V-77 Reliant in Twentynine Palms

Date & Time: Jun 22, 1976 at 1830 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N69747
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Lake Havasu – Chino
MSN:
77-490
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
3600
Captain / Total hours on type:
110.00
Circumstances:
En route, oil temperature got high and the oil pressure got low. Oil spread on windshield. The engine lost power and the crew attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft struck a cabin and crashed, bursting into flames. Both occupants were seriously injured.
Probable cause:
Powerplant failure for undetermined reasons.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas TB-26C Invader near Chino: 5 killed

Date & Time: Oct 16, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
44-34636
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Sheppard – Williams – Long Beach
MSN:
27911
YOM:
1944
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a flight from Sheppard AFB (Wichita Falls, Texas) to Long Beach with an intermediate stop in Williams AFB, Arizona. While flying over de Chino Hills in clouds, the twin engine aircraft hit the cables of a high-tension power line and crashed on the slope of the San Juan Hill, southwest of Chino. All occupants were killed, apparently five crew members.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the pilot in command continued VFR in IFR conditions.