Zone

Crash of a Learjet 36A off San Clemente NAS: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 10, 2023 at 0755 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N56PA
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Point Mugu - Point Mugu
MSN:
36-023
YOM:
1976
Flight number:
Fenix 01
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane was engaged in a mission on behalf of the US Navy (callsign Fenix 01) when it crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea about a mile southwest off San Clemente Island NAS. Few debris were found floating on water and all three crew members were killed.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130H Hercules off San Clemente Island: 7 killed

Date & Time: Oct 29, 2009 at 1909 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
1705
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
McClellan AFB - McClellan AFB
MSN:
4993
YOM:
1984
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
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:
Operator:
Registration:
N97DM
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
24-253
YOM:
1972
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
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:
Operator:
Registration:
N39DM
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
35-040
YOM:
1975
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
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:
Registration:
N68392
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
MSN:
5615
YOM:
1943
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
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:
Operator:
Registration:
146046
Survivors:
No
MSN:
76
YOM:
1958
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
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:
Registration:
N41813
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
San Clemente - Long Beach
MSN:
1725
YOM:
1933
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
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:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
North Island - North Island
MSN:
10
YOM:
1937
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a night flight in formation with another Catalina registered 0463. While cruising side by side in heavy rain falls, both aircraft collided and crashed into the sea off the San Clemente Island, some 110 km west of San Diego. All occupants on board 0462 were killed while three crew members on boar 0463 survived.
Probable cause:
In-flight collision following a poor judgement on part of each crew.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-2A Catalina off San Clementet Island: 7 killed

Date & Time: Feb 2, 1938 at 2040 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
0462
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
North Island - North Island
MSN:
9
YOM:
1937
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a night flight in formation with another Catalina registered 0463. While cruising side by side in heavy rain falls, both aircraft collided and crashed into the sea off the San Clemente Island, some 110 km west of San Diego. All occupants on board 0462 were killed while three crew members on boar 0463 survived.
Probable cause:
In-flight collision following a poor judgement on part of each crew.