San Clemente Island NAS

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

McClellan AFB - McClellan AFB

MSN:

4993

YOM:

1984

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Pax on board:

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Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While performing a SAR mission for a 12 foot boat that was missing since two days, the aircraft collided with a Bell AH-1 Suber Cobra operated by the US Marine Corps. Both machines crashed into the sea some 24 km off the San Clemente Island and all occupants were missing. SAR were abandoned on 01NOV2013 as no trace of the Hercules and the Cobra were found. It appears that the Cobra's crew was taking part of an exercise in an area reserved for training missions. At the time of the accident, the Cobra had its anticollision lights and IFF transponder switched off.

Probable cause:

USAF and US authorities concluded that no single factor or individual act or omission was the cause of the collision. Investigations concluded that it was the consequence of a tragic confluence of events, missed opportunities, and procedure/policy issues in an airspace where most aircraft fly under a "see-and-avoid" regime. A contributory factor was that FACSFAC San Diego did not provide operational priority to the crew of the Lockheed Hercules.

Crash of a Learjet 24D off San Clemente Island: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 5, 1986

Type of aircraft:

Learjet 24

Operator:

Registration:

N97DM

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

24-253

YOM:

1972

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Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

The crew was engaged in a military exercise consisting of an aerial attack of a US Navy vessel. In unknown circumstances, the aircraft collided with a second Flight International Learjet 35 registered N39DM. Both aircraft crashed in the sea about 27 miles southeast of San Clemente Island and all four crew members were killed.

Probable cause:

In-flight collision for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Learjet 35 off San Clemente Island: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 5, 1986

Type of aircraft:

Learjet 35

Operator:

Registration:

N39DM

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

35-040

YOM:

1975

Location:

Country:

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Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was engaged in a military exercise consisting of an aerial attack of a US Navy vessel. In unknown circumstances, the aircraft collided with a second Flight International Learjet 24D registered N97DM. Both aircraft crashed in the sea about 27 miles southeast of San Clemente Island and all four crew members were killed.

Probable cause:

In-flight collision for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Beechcraft UC-45J on San Clemente Island: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 2, 1981

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Miller Air Transporters Company (MATCO)

Registration:

N68392

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Illegal (smuggling)

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

MSN:

5615

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Landing (descent or approach)

Crew on board:

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Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

300

Circumstances:

The pilot, sole on board, was completing an illegal flight to Santa Barbara when the airplane crashed in a mountainous area located on the San Clemente Island. The accident occurred in unknown circumstances and the wreckage was found seven months later on September 11, 1981. The pilot was killed. A load of 900 lbs of marijuana was also found in and around the wreckage.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain after the pilot misjudged altitude and clearance.

Final Report:

Crash of a Grumman C-1A Trader off San Clemente Island NAS: 4 killed

Date & Time: Aug 15, 1980

Type of aircraft:

Grumman C-1A Trader

Operator:

Registration:

146046

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

YOM:

1958

Location:

Country:

Region:

Landing (descent or approach)

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

The twin engine airplane was returning to San Clemente Island-Naval Auxiliary Landing Field following a routine maritime patrol flight when it crashed into the sea in unknown circumstances, few miles offshore. All four crew members were killed.

Crash of a Boeing 247D off Long Beach

Date & Time: Jun 5, 1952

Type of aircraft:

Boeing 247

Operator:

Scott Aero Service

Registration:

N41813

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

San Clemente - Long Beach

MSN:

1725

YOM:

1933

Location:

Long Beach

Country:

Region:

Consolidated PBY Catalina

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

The crew was performing a cargo flight from San Clemente Island to Long Beach. While approaching Long Beach, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea off Long Beach. Both pilots were rescued while the aircraft sank and was lost.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-2A Catalina off San Clemente Island: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 2, 1938 at 2040 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

0463

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

North Island - North Island

MSN:

YOM:

1937

Location:

Country:

Region: