Aircraft
Preliminary Report: Learjet Plummets Into Desert
LEARJET 24B, HELENDALE, CALIF., DEC.

LEARJET 24B, HELENDALE, CALIF., DEC. 23, 2003–At 9:11 a.m. PST Learjet 24B N600XJ crashed near Helendale, killing the ATP-rated captain and commercial-rated copilot. The airplane, destroyed in the accident, was registered to Pavair of Santa Monica, Calif., and operated by Xtrajet, also of Santa Monica. N600XJ had departed from Chino, Calif., at 9 a.m. on an IFR flight plan for Sun Valley, Idaho, to pick up passengers. The aircraft was being operated under FAR Part 91 and was in VMC when the accident occurred.

The Learjet departed Chino and was cleared to climb to FL290. After reaching FL240 the crew requested to return to Chino. The air traffic controller asked if the crew needed to declare an emergency, but they declined. However, a few minutes later the flight crew did declare an emergency. This call for help was the last communication received.

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