# NTSB LAX85MA008: Gates Learjet 24B, N864CL, San Francisco, CA, October 9, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Major investigation · Final report
- Date: October 8, 1984, 19:49 local (Oct 9, 1984, 02:49 UTC)
- Place: San Francisco, CA
- Coordinates: 37.559486, -122.369132 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.5595&lon=-122.3691&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 24860
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX85MA008
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/24860/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX85MA008

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
  - light condition - dark night
  - weather condition - low ceiling
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

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.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N864CL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N864CL-2013-04-15), registration cancelled 2013-04-15, S/N 229, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Gates Learjet 24B
- Registry model: [Learjet 24](https://openairdocs.org/model/learjet-24) (registry code 5170302) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [GE CJ610-SER series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/ge-cj610-ser-series) (registry code 30006, turbo-jet) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 229
- Airframe hours: 25515
- Engines: GE CJ610-6 2950 lbs thrust turbo jet
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Operator: Clay Lacy Av Inc
- Registered owner: Hersael Clay Lacy
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: AAIP, September 30, 1954, 661 hours before
- Departed: SFO
- Destination: VNY, VAN NUYS, CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: SFO, San Francisco Int'L, runway 28L, 10,600 × 200 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 32; airline transport, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 8,600 total, 2,500 in this make and model, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 280° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 600 ft broken
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SFO

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19841008076619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19841008076619A), Oct 8, 1984: Lear STC24LEAR, San Francisco, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Crashed and burned seconds after rotation into IFR conditions. Cause not known. PIC undetermined.

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.

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