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October 9, 1984 · Gates Learjet 24B · N864CL

San Francisco, CA

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
October 9, 1984
Injury Outcomes
3 injuries (3 fatalities)
Location
San Francisco, CA
Aircraft
Gates Learjet 24B
Tail Number
N864CL
Operator
Clay Lacy Av
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
LAX85MA008

THE ACFT, A GATES LEAR JET 24B, MODIFIED BY A HOWARD/RAISEBACH MARK II CONVERSION, WAS CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF ON RWY 28L. TOWER PSNL ESTIMATED THAT THE ACFT ROTATED FOR TAKEOFF AT 3200' DOWN THE RWY & WAS AT APRX 200' AGL WHEN THE PLT WAS INSTRUCTED TO CONTACT DEPARTURE CONTROL. WITNESSES OBSERVED THE ACFT CLIMBING IN A WINGS LEVEL ATTITUDE WHEN IT ENTERED THE BROKEN CLD LAYER AT ABOUT 600' AGL. MOMENTS LATER, THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED DESCENDING OUT OF THE CLDS AT A STEEP ANGLE& IN A LEFT WING LOW/NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. THE ACFT IMPACTED BETWEEN RWYS 28L & 28R, APRX 10,000' FROM THE APCH ENDS. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE ENGS SOUNDED LIKE THEY WERE OPERATING AT A HI PWR SETTING. AN EXAM OF THE ENGS REVEALED EVIDENCE THAT BOTH WERE AT OR ABOVE 92% PWR AT IMPACT. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE/MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND. RECORDS REVEALED2 AUTOPLT DISCREPANCIES ON 10/4/84; ONE INDCD THE ROLL MODE WAS SENSITIVE; THE OTHER INDCD THE AUTOPLT INTERMITTENTLY ROLLED THE ACFT INTO A STANDARD RATE LEFT BANK WHEN ENGAGED. RPRTDLY, THE AUTOPLT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN USED FOR TAKEOFF.

Full Narrative

THE ACFT, A GATES LEAR JET 24B, MODIFIED BY A HOWARD/RAISEBACH MARK II CONVERSION, WAS CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF ON RWY 28L. TOWER PSNL ESTIMATED THAT THE ACFT ROTATED FOR TAKEOFF AT 3200' DOWN THE RWY & WAS AT APRX 200' AGL WHEN THE PLT WAS INSTRUCTED TO CONTACT DEPARTURE CONTROL. WITNESSES OBSERVED THE ACFT CLIMBING IN A WINGS LEVEL ATTITUDE WHEN IT ENTERED THE BROKEN CLD LAYER AT ABOUT 600' AGL. MOMENTS LATER, THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED DESCENDING OUT OF THE CLDS AT A STEEP ANGLE& IN A LEFT WING LOW/NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. THE ACFT IMPACTED BETWEEN RWYS 28L & 28R, APRX 10,000' FROM THE APCH ENDS. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE ENGS SOUNDED LIKE THEY WERE OPERATING AT A HI PWR SETTING. AN EXAM OF THE ENGS REVEALED EVIDENCE THAT BOTH WERE AT OR ABOVE 92% PWR AT IMPACT. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE/MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND. RECORDS REVEALED2 AUTOPLT DISCREPANCIES ON 10/4/84; ONE INDCD THE ROLL MODE WAS SENSITIVE; THE OTHER INDCD THE AUTOPLT INTERMITTENTLY ROLLED THE ACFT INTO A STANDARD RATE LEFT BANK WHEN ENGAGED. RPRTDLY, THE AUTOPLT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN USED FOR TAKEOFF.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time19:49 PDT
Nearest AirportSan Francisco Int'L (0nm N)
Runway28L
Runway Length10600 ft
Runway Width200 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionGrd

Aircraft

AircraftGates Learjet 24B
Tail NumberN864CL
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorClay Lacy Av
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeTurbojet
Engine DetailsGe · CJ610-6 · Turbojet · 2950
Seats9

People & Injuries

Injury Summary3 injuries (3 fatalities)
Fatal3
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total3
Crew 1Age 32 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDark Night
Wind280° @ 11 kt
Visibility12 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 600 ft
Temperature / Dew Point63 F / 59
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time00:52
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data