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National Transportation Safety Board NTSB ID: LAX07TA051 Aircraft Registration Number: N26FN

FACTUAL REPORT Occurrence Date: 12/01/2006 Most Critical Injury: None

AVIATION Occurrence Type: Accident Investigated By: NTSB

Location/Time
Nearest City/Place State Zip Code Local Time Time Zone
San Diego CA 92112 1035 PST

Airport Proximity: Off Airport/Airstrip Distance From Landing Facility: 161

Aircraft Information Summary

Aircraft Manufacturer Model/Series Type of Aircraft

Learjet 36 Airplane

Revenue Sightseeing Flight: No Air Medical Transport Flight: No

Narrative
Brief narrative statement of facts, conditions and circumstances pertinent to the accident/incident:
On December 1, 2006, about 1035 Pacific standard time, a Learjet 36, N26FN, sustained an in-flight
loss of the right elevator while maneuvering off the coast of San Diego, California. L-3
Communications Flight Capital LLC was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of
Federal Regulations Part 91. The airline transport pilot, the commercial rated second pilot, and
one passenger were not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The local public-use
flight departed North Island Naval Air Station (NZY), San Diego, about 0930. Visual meteorological
conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.

The operator submitted a written report.

The pilot was flying the airplane from the left seat. The airplane rendezvoused with another
Learjet in W-291, approximately 100 nm west of NZY, to begin a series of flight profiles for the
testing of a Common Aviation Command and Control System for the Department of Defense. Though
visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, the crew noted that the
horizon was very difficult to discern.

The first profile was flown with the airplane 1,000 feet below and slightly in trail of the other
Learjet. The run was uneventful except for increasing communications difficulties with the test
controllers as the flight proceeded down range. While attempting to reestablish communications
with the test controllers, the high Learjet began a left-hand orbit. The pilot (of the mishap
Learjet) maneuvered to a co-altitude in trail position to maintain sight of the other airplane and
facilitate the setup for the next profile. During the maneuver, the pilot lost sight of the other
airplane, and rolled right to what he perceived was 25,000 feet mean sea level (msl), 270 knots
indicated airspeed (KIAS), and 90 percent N1, respectively. Unable to see the horizon or the other
airplane, he attempted to transition to instrument references. But his vision was still impaired
by the glare from the sun, delaying his recognition of the airplane's attitude. The copilot had
been heads down in the cockpit, and when he ultimately noted the airplane's increasing bank,
assumed that the pilot was maneuvering to avoid the other airplane. The pilot initiated recovery
with the airplane in an estimated 70-degree right bank, 50-degree nose down attitude, and an
airspeed of 380 KIAS.

The pilot moved the thrust levers rapidly to idle, rolled to a wings level attitude, and began the
dive recovery. He noted that the airspeed seemed to stabilize at 380 KIAS, and the pull was not
abrupt. Both crew members felt that the pull up was completed smoothly without excessive G force.
During the dive, the crew noted that the airplane was definitely shuddering, but did not recall any
rolling tendencies or vibration of the control yoke. The crew did not recall any unusual noises
other than the loud wind noise.

The equipment operator seated at the midpoint of the cabin noted that the wind noise and the
shudder continued to increase in intensity until partway through the dive recovery. At the end of

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National Transportation Safety Board NTSB ID: LAX07TA051

FACTUAL REPORT Occurrence Date: 12/01/2006

AVIATION Occurrence Type: Accident

Narrative (Continued)

this time, he heard a very loud bang and felt a large shudder, after which the airplane's
shuddering almost immediately ceased. Everything seemed to return to normal "as if nothing
happened."

The dive recovery was completed by 16,000 feet msl, and the aircrew noted no unusual handling
qualities as the airplane slowed to 200 KIAS. The crew conducted a controllability check by
slowing it to 150 KIAS and lowering the landing gear. Again the airplane exhibited no unusual
flight characteristics. The remainder of the flight and landing at NZY were uneventful.

During post flight inspection, the aircrew discovered that the right elevator was missing.

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NTSB ID: LAX07TA051

National Transportation Safety Board

FACTUAL REPORT Occurrence Date: 12/01/2006

AVIATION Occurrence Type: Accident

Landing Facility/Approach Information

Airport Name Airport ID: Airport Elevation Runway Used Runway Length Runway Width
NORTH ISLAND NAS/HALSEY FIELD NZY 26 Ft. MSL NA

Runway Surface Type:

Runway Surface Condition:

Approach/Arrival Flown: NONE

VFR Approach/Landing: None

Aircraft Information
Aircraft Manufacturer Model/Series Serial Number
Learjet 36 011

Airworthiness Certificate(s): Restricted (Special)

Landing Gear Type: Retractable - Tricycle

Amateur Built Acft? No Number of Seats: 4 Certified Max Gross Wt. 18300 LBS Number of Engines: 2
Engine Type: Engine Manufacturer: Model/Series: Rated Power:
Turbo Fan Garrett TFE 731-2-2B 3500 LBS
- Aircraft Inspection Information
Type of Last Inspection Date of Last Inspection Time Since Last Inspection Airframe Total Time

Continuous Airworthiness 08/2006 Hours 12043 Hours

- Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) Information

ELT Installed?/Type Yes / ELT Operated? No ELT Aided in Locating Accident Site? No

Owner/Operator Information
Registered Aircraft Owner Street Address
1 Lear Dr
L-3 Communications Flight Capital LLC City State Zip Code
Newport News VA 23602
Street Address
Operator of Aircraft
City State Zip Code
L-3 Communications Flight Internata
Madison MS 39110
Operator Does Business As: Operator Designator Code:
- Type of U.S. Certificate(s) Held: None
Air Carrier Operating Certificate(s):

Operating Certificate: Operator Certificate:

Regulation Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation

Type of Flight Operation Conducted: Personal

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National Transportation Safety Board NTSB ID: LAX07TA051

FACTUAL REPORT Occurrence Date: 12/01/2006

AVIATION Occurrence Type: Accident

First Pilot Information

Name City State Date of Birth Age

On File On File On File On File 60

Sex: M Seat Occupied: Left Occupational Pilot? Certificate Number: On File

Certificate(s): Airline Transport

Airplane Rating(s): Multi-engine Land; Single-engine Land

Rotorcraft/Glider/LTA: None

Instrument Rating(s): Airplane

Instructor Rating(s): None

Current Biennial Flight Review? 11/2006

Medical Cert.: Class 1 Medical Cert. Status: Without Waivers/Limitations Date of Last Medical Exam: 09/2006

This Make Airplane Airplane Instrument Lighter

All A/C
- Flight Time Matrix and Model Single Engine Mult-Engine
Night
Actual Simulated
Rotorcraft Glider
Than Air

Total Time 19581 12016 4047 15534 837 322 742 33

Pilot In Command(PIC) 16473 9612 4047 12427 669 257 594 0
Instructor

Instruction Received

Last 90 Days 186 179 0 186 5 3 16

Last 30 Days 27 22 0 27 2 0 4
Last 24 Hours

Seatbelt Used? Yes Shoulder Harness Used? Yes Toxicology Performed? Second Pilot? Yes

Flight Plan/Itinerary
Type of Flight Plan Filed: IFR
Departure Point State Airport Identifier Departure Time Time Zone

San Diego CA NZY 0930 PST

Destination State Airport Identifier

Local Flight

Type of Clearance: IFR

Type of Airspace:

Weather Information
Source of Wx Information:

Internet; National Weather Service

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National Transportation Safety Board NTSB ID: LAX07TA051

FACTUAL REPORT Occurrence Date: 12/01/2006

AVIATION Occurrence Type: Accident

Weather Information
WOF ID Observation Time Time Zone WOF Elevation WOF Distance From Accident Site Direction From Accident Site

NZY 0855 PST 26 Ft. MSL 140 NM 36 Deg. Mag.

Sky/Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear Ft. AGL Condition of Light: Day

Lowest Ceiling: None Ft. AGL Visibility: 7 SM Altimeter: 30.11 "Hg

Temperature: 21 ° C Dew Point: -9 ° C Weather Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions

Wind Direction: Wind Speed: Calm Wind Gusts:

Visibility (RVR): Ft. Visibility (RVV) SM

Precip and/or Obscuration:

Haze

Accident Information
Aircraft Damage: Substantial Aircraft Fire: None Aircraft Explosion None

- Injury Summary Matrix Fatal Serious Minor None TOTAL

First Pilot 1 1
Second Pilot 1 1
Student Pilot

Flight Instructor

Check Pilot

Flight Engineer

Cabin Attendants

Other Crew

Passengers 1 1
- TOTAL ABOARD - 3 3
Other Ground

- GRAND TOTAL - 3 3

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NTSB ID: LAX07TA051

National Transportation Safety Board

FACTUAL REPORT Occurrence Date: 12/01/2006

AVIATION Occurrence Type: Accident

Administrative Information
Investigator-In-Charge (IIC)
Howard Plagens

Additional Persons Participating in This Accident/Incident Investigation:

Bill Dickinson
Federal Aviation Administration
San Diego, CA

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