# Accident 20230510005119A: Gates Lear Jet 36A, CA, May 10, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 10, 2023, 09:35 local time
- Place: CA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.8394° N, 118.5157° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8394&lon=-118.5157&mi=10
- Aircraft: N56PA, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N56PA) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Gates Lear Jet 36A (registry code 5170603, https://openairdocs.org/model/gates-lear-jet-36a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Garrett TFE731 series (registry code 29001, https://openairdocs.org/engine/garrett-tfe731-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GATES LEAR JET 36A
- Reported engine: GARRETT TFE731 SERIES
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 3
- Other injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR23FA185](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23FA185) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230510005119A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

LEAD OF A FLIGHT TWO AIRCRAFT, COLLABORATIVE EFFORT FOR U.S NAVY TRAINING. THE TWO AIRCRAFT TOOK OFF FROM N.A.S PT MUGU AND JOINED UP AT 15,000 FEET THEN CONTINUED TO SAN CLEMENTE ISLAND.THE SECOND AIRCAFT WITNESSED THE LEAD AIRCRAT WITH WHAT APPEARED TO BE AN INADVERTENT PARTIAL DEPLOYMENT OF THE FLAPS.THE SECOND AIRCRAFT REPORTED WHAT THEY SAW TO THE LEAD AIRCRAFT. SHORTLY AFTER THAT OVER THE RADIO A SURPRISED UTTERANCE AND THEN IT APPEARED THE FLAPS WHERE BEING RETRACTED.SECONDS LATER THE LEAD AIRCRAFT RADIOED HE SMELLED SOMETHING IN THE CABIN. THEN THE SECOND AIRCRAFT COULD SEE WHITE/GREY SMOKE OR SOME TYPE OF GAS COMING FROM THE LEFT SIDE AFT CABIN AREA OF THE LEAD AIRCRAFT. AT THIS POINT THE LEAD AIRCRAFT WAS NOT MAINTAINING ALLTITUDE OR HEADING. THEN A ONE FOOT FLAME WAS WITNESSED COMING OUT OF THE LEAD AIRCRAFT AROUND THE AFT EQUIPMENTDOOR. OVER THE RADIO THE LEAD AIRCRAFT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY AND STATED THEY NEEDED TO LAND AT SAN CLEMENTE ISLAND.SHORTLY AFTER THE RADIO CALL THE DRAG CHUTE WAS SEEN DEPLOYED ON THE LEAD AIRCRAFT. THE LEAD AIRCRAFT THEN REQUESTED THE SECOND AIRCRAFT TO TAKE THE LEAD POSITION BEACUSE THEY NEEDED HELP WITH NAVIGATION. PASSING ON THE LEFT SIDE AT 9,000 FEET AND DECENDING A RADIO CALL TO THE STRICKEN AIRCAFT WAS "ARE YOU STILL WITH ME'" THE ONLY RESPONCE WAS "BARELY".  AT OR AROUND 7,000 FEET VISUL CONTACT WAS LOST WITH THE STRICKEN AIRCRAFT. THE SECOND AIRCRAFT NOW LEED TURNED AROUND TO TRY AND FIND THE STRICKEN AIRCRAFT. ABOUT A MILE PAST THE LAST KNOWN LOCATION SMALL PIECES OF WHITE, YELLOW AND RED DEBRIS WAS FOUND IN THE WATER.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB WPR23FA185](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23FA185), May 10, 2023: Gates Lear Jet 36A (N56PA), San Clemente Island, CA, destroyed, 3 fatal. Probable cause: The pilots’ loss of airplane control following a catastrophic fire that started on the left side of the aft equipment bay (tail cone). The fire likely initiated from a leak from the left fuel motive…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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