Crash of a Learjet 36 at North Island NAS

Date & Time: Sep 9, 2022 at 1314 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N26FN
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
North Island - North Island
MSN:
36-011
YOM:
1975
Flight number:
FST26
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On September 9, 2022, at 1314 Pacific daylight time, a Gates Lear Jet Corp. 36, N26FN, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at North Island Naval Station (Halsey Field) Airport (NZY), San Diego, California. The two pilots sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 business flight. The flight departed from NZY to provide air services to a naval ship. During the return flight to NZY, the crew planned for an instrument approach. Air Traffic Control (ATC) advised that the airport was reporting visual flight rules (VFR) and if the airport was in sight, a visual approach was available. The pilots noted a staggered cloud base and maneuvered to maintain visual contact with the airport. The pilots calculated Vref (reference speed) as 140 KIAS (knots indicated airspeed) for their landing weight (14,900 lbs.) with 20° of flaps; the landing distance was approximately 4,200 ft and included factors for 20° flaps and wet runway conditions. According to the pilots’ statement, runway 36 has a total distance of 8,000 ft. The pilots reported that the spoilers were deployed on touchdown and breaking was applied. The airplane did not decelerate in a normal manner and appeared to be hydroplaning. The antiskid system was activated, and the brakes were briefly released before they were reapplied; there was no difference in deceleration. At the 5,000 ft remaining sign, a callout was made that the airplane was not decelerating and appeared to be accelerating. At the 1,000 ft remaining runway sign, the second in command called out ‘100 kts.’ There was not enough available runway to stop, and the airplane exited the runway and went over the sea wall and came to rest in the bay.

Crash of a Lockheed HC-130P Hercules in the Pacific Ocean: 10 killed

Date & Time: Nov 22, 1996 at 1846 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
64-14856
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Portland - North Island
MSN:
4072
YOM:
1965
Flight number:
King 56
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
Based upon digital flight data recorded (DFDR) information, the mishap aircraft departed Portland IAP at 1720 PST on 22 Nov 96 on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight en route to North Island Naval Air Station. The purpose of the sortie was to conduct an overwater navigation evaluation. King 56 began the sortie with a normal takeoff, departure and climbout. One hour and 24 minutes after takeoff in level flight at FL 220 the mishap sequence began with the engineer commenting on a torque flux on the number 1 engine. Nothing on the cockpit voice recorder (CVR), the DFDR, or the survivor’s testimony suggested any unusual events prior to the engineer’s comment. Over the next three minutes, the operations of all four engines became unstable and eventually failed. Crew actions during these critical three minutes are known only by verbal comments on the CVR and the survivor’s testimony. The following discusses what we know of those actions. The engineer called for n°1 propeller to be placed in mechanical governing. This would normally remove electrical inputs to the propeller through the synchrophaser. The pilot then called for all four propellers to be placed in mechanical governing. This action was consistent with treating this emergency as a four-engine rollback. There is no indication on the DFDR or the CVR as to whether or not the crew selected mechanical governing on any of the remaining three propellers. At the same time the crew was analyzing the emergency, they also declared an in-flight emergency with Oakland ARTCC and turned the mission aircraft east to proceed toward Kingsley Field, Klamath Falls, OR, approximately 230 miles away and approximately 80 miles from the coast. The Radio Operator radioed the USCG Humboldt Bay Station and notified them of the in-flight emergency. During the turn toward the shore the number 3 and number 4 engines once briefly recovered most of their torque. These increases are recorded by the flight data recorder. When the RPM on number 3 (the aircraft’s last functioning engine) finally decreased below 94% RPM the last generator producing electrical power dropped off line due to low frequencies. As a result, at 1846 Pacific Standard Time all electrical power was lost. After a brief period, power was restored to the equipment powered by the battery bus. From this point on, the aircraft glided to the attempted ditching. There is no record of that portion of the flight, except the survivor’s testimony.The outboard wing sections and all four engines separated from the center wing section that in turn separated from the fuselage. Subsequently, the engines and fuselage went straight to the ocean floor at a depth of approximately 5500 feet. The outer wing and the center wing sections floated on the surface for several days and sank more than 50 nm from the impact location. The radio navigator was rescued while 10 other crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Fuel starvation for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Lockheed P-3A-55-LO Orion near Searchlight: 10 killed

Date & Time: Aug 3, 1970
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
152159
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Nellis – North Island – Barbers Point
MSN:
185-5129
YOM:
1965
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The crew departed Nellis AFB in Las Vegas on a flight to Barbers Point NAS, Hawaii, with an intermediate stop at North Island-Halsey Field NAS in San Diego. Few minutes after takeoff, the airplane went through a thunderstorm area and encountered heavy turbulences. The pilot lost control of the airplane that entered a dive, partially disintegrated in the air and eventually crashed in a desert area located 10 miles northwest of Searchlight, Nevada. The airplane was totally destroyed and debris scattered on more that half a mile. All ten crew members were killed.
Crew (VP-17):
Lt Timothy D. Bailing,
Lt Norman L. Johnson,
Ltjg Henry J. McGreevey,
Adj1 Ambrose Ordonia,
Adj1 Johnny D. Shelton,
Atn3 Cletus L. Morrison,
Aw3 John D. Maas,
Aw3 John W. Schmitz,
Aw3 Michael A. Silvers,
Aw3 Bruce E. Weaver.
Probable cause:
The Navy concluded that the aircraft was struck by lightning, but Lockheed determined that the breakup of the aircraft in flight was caused by structural overloading of the right wing from a positive high angle of attack condition. Lockheed concluded that it was the uncontrollable flight and the resultant stresses that caused the aircraft to disintegrate in flight.

Crash of a Lockheed P2V-7 Neptune off North Island NAS

Date & Time: May 18, 1966 at 1430 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
147953
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
North Island - North Island
MSN:
726-7203
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was returning to North Island-Halsey Field NAS following a maritime patrol flight. On final approach, an engine failed. The airplane stalled and crashed into the sea about four miles short of runway 36. All seven crew members were rescued while the airplane was lost.
Probable cause:
Engine failure on final approach.

Crash of a Convair XP5Y-1 Tradewind off Point Loma

Date & Time: Jul 15, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
121455
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
North Island - North Island
MSN:
1
YOM:
1953
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local test flight on behalf of the Convair Company. After departure from North Island-Halsey Field NAS, while in cruising altitude, the crew encountered control difficulties. All 11 crew members decided to bail out and abandoned the aircraft that dove into the seas and crashed off Point Loma. All 11 occupants were rescued while the airplane was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Failure of an elevator torque tube in flight.

Crash of a Martin PBM-5 Mariner off Halsey Field NAS: 11 killed

Date & Time: Nov 27, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
59223
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
North Island - North Island
MSN:
59223
YOM:
1944
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a training mission when the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances about 7 miles off North Island-Halsey Field NAS. All 11 crew members were killed.

Crash of a Martin PBM-5S Mariner off North Island NAS: 10 killed

Date & Time: Aug 31, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
84770
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The crew was apparently involved in a maritime patrol flight from North Island-Halsey Field NAS, San Diego. Shortly after takeoff, the seaplane encountered strong winds, causing a wing to drop and hit the water surface. The aircraft went out of control and crashed, killing all ten crew members.

Crash of a Martin PBM-5 Mariner off San Diego: 13 killed

Date & Time: Sep 5, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
59185
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
North Island - North Island
MSN:
59185
Crew on board:
13
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Circumstances:
While performing a night training mission off San Diego, the pilot lost control of the aircraft that dove into the sea and sank. There were no survivors.
Probable cause:
Investigators reported that the loss of control could be the consequence of a faintness or vertigo on part of the pilot in command. Nevertheless, the exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty.

Crash of a Martin PBM-5 Mariner off North Island NAS: 8 killed

Date & Time: Apr 6, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
59082
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
North Island - Kaneohe
MSN:
59082
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from North Island-Halsey Field NAS, while in initial climb, the crew retracted the flaps when the aircraft stalled and crashed into the Bay of San Diego. All eight crew members were killed.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina off San Diego

Date & Time: Apr 19, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
48449
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
1811
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Was damaged beyond repair while landing into the bay off North Island-Halsey Field NAS. No casualties.