Lancaster - Lancaster

The crew departed Santa Ana in the early morning to follow a training program at Lancaster-General William J. Fox Airport. He was completing several touch-and-goes when control was lost during initial climb. The airplane swerved on runway and eventually crashed. The copilot was seriously injured while the captain was killed.

Flight / Schedule

Lancaster - Lancaster

Aircraft

Learjet 24

Registration

N123RE

MSN

24-154

Year of Manufacture

1967

Operator

Martin Aviation

Date

October 17, 1978 at 09:13 AM

Type

CRASH

Flight Type

Training

Flight Phase

Takeoff (climb)

Crash Site

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Crash Location

Lancaster-General William J. Fox California

Region

North America • United States of America

Crash Cause

Human factor

Narrative Report

On October 17, 1978 at 09:13 AM, Lancaster - Lancaster experienced a crash involving Learjet 24, operated by Martin Aviation, with the event recorded near Lancaster-General William J. Fox California.

The flight was categorized as training and the reported phase was takeoff (climb) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

2 people were known to be on board, 1 fatalities were recorded, 1 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 50.0%.

Crew on board: 2, crew fatalities: 1, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. The crew departed Santa Ana in the early morning to follow a training program at Lancaster-General William J. Fox Airport. He was completing several touch-and-goes when control was lost during initial climb. The airplane swerved on runway and eventually crashed. The copilot was seriously injured while the captain was killed.

Aircraft reference details include registration N123RE, MSN 24-154, year of manufacture 1967.

Fatalities

Total

1

Crew

1

Passengers

0

Other

0

Crash Summary

The crew departed Santa Ana in the early morning to follow a training program at Lancaster-General William J. Fox Airport. He was completing several touch-and-goes when control was lost during initial climb. The airplane swerved on runway and eventually crashed. The copilot was seriously injured while the captain was killed.

Cause: Human factor

Occupants & Outcome

Crew On Board

2

Passengers On Board

0

Estimated Survivors

1

Fatality Rate

50.0%

Known people on board: 2

Operational Details

Schedule / Flight

Lancaster - Lancaster

Operator

Martin Aviation

Flight Type

Training

Flight Phase

Takeoff (climb)

Crash Site

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Region / Country

North America • United States of America

Aircraft Details

Aircraft

Learjet 24

Registration

N123RE

MSN

24-154

Year of Manufacture

1967