Phoenix Air Learjet crashes near San Clemente Island

The Coast Guard responded to a missing Learjet this morning. The aircraft, N56PA, belongs to Phoenix Air, who performs multiple contract services for the Pentagon. The area around San Clemente Island is a Navy live fire area. The aircraft launched from Point Mugu and apparently reported an emergency and was attempting to return, possibly to NAS North Island when it disappeared. There were three people on board at the time. A USCG Jayhawk helicopter went from the area of the search, to a hospital on shore, so it appears that there may be at least one person found alive. A debris field was found near the island.

SAN DIEGO, CA — A plane crashed with three men on board a mile southwest of San Clemente Island, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

The agency received the report around 8 a.m. Wednesday of the downed Phoenix Air Learjet, a Coast Guard spokesperson said. The plane was a civilian aircraft with civilian personnel on board that had been contracted by the U.S. Navy and took off Wednesday morning from Point Mugu, according to the spokesperson.

The Coast Guard launched an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrew for search and rescue efforts, the agency tweeted shortly before 9 a.m. Around 10:30 a.m., the Coast Guard tweeted that its crews, along with U.S. Navy and border protection personnel, had discovered aircraft debris in the area.

patch.com...

a reply to: Zaphod58

So possible "friendly fire" incident ?

a reply to: M5xaz

Could be. Wouldn't be the first. Far too early to tell though.

a reply to: M5xaz

'Friendly fire' 'accident', to neutralise some escapees/ whistleblowers from the Deep State.

a reply to: chris_stibrany

I'm sure that was it, and it had nothing to do with the fact that they tow targets for live fire training, which is crazy dangerous.

a reply to: Zaphod58

Stop stopping the conspiracy theories on a conspiracy theory site.

originally posted by: Zaphod58
a reply to: chris_stibrany

I'm sure that was it, and it had nothing to do with the fact that they tow targets for live fire training, which is crazy dangerous.

So the military hires civilian lear jets with civilians on boards to tow live fire targets? hell I would have thought they would use military personnel or drones for such a dangerous job

a reply to: putnam6

Civilian contractors do many roles for the military. Saves wear and tear on the military jets. Phoenix Air does target towing, EW work, and missile simulators with their jets. A number of others do Red Air for various missions, from antiship to hostile air. Target towing involves towing a target several miles behind the aircraft. It's rare for something to happen to hit the aircraft, but it has happened in the past. They tow targets for everything from guns, like CIWS, to missiles. The targets vary depending on what's being shot, but they're all towed at what's usually a safe distance from the aircraft. The danger comes from operator error, and them either locking on to the plane, instead of the target, or a freak track where the missile tracks up the cable to the aircraft.

You’d think there would be some kind of failsafe with a missile tracking up the cable. Like a deadman jettison kind of thing?

a reply to: Zaphod58

originally posted by: Dalamax
You’d think there would be some kind of failsafe with a missile tracking up the cable. Like a deadman jettison kind of thing?

Those kind of things would obviously be having maintenance or software updates for the day.

Wait for the spoon facts to arrive and see how they flow eh?

a reply to: Dalamax

It happens so fast that there generally isn't time. You're talking about a couple of miles between target and plane, and a missile capable of going between mach 2 and mach 4 or so. That's not a lot of time to realize it's tracking on the wrong target, and hitting a switch to blow the missile. You aren't going to realize it until it's already tracking the tow plane, and by then it's already too late.

originally posted by: Zaphod58
a reply to: Dalamax

It happens so fast that there generally isn't time. You're talking about a couple of miles between target and plane, and a missile capable of going between mach 2 and mach 4 or so. That's not a lot of time to realize it's tracking on the wrong target, and hitting a switch to blow the missile. You aren't going to realize it until it's already tracking the tow plane, and by then it's already too late.

I was thinking the same thing but in this case, they reported a problem and were heading back. Maybe they got hit but not fully disabled right away and had some time to think. I can't fathom what it's like to be in their seat knowing there's a problem. It's tragic.

a reply to: LogicalGraphitti

It's also possible that it was simply a mechanical issue unrelated to a live fire test. They may have been doing EW work, or something not related to a live fire. It just happens that the area is right next to the live fire range.

Like these?



phoenixair.com...

GRAY BIRDS
The most versatile military training aircraft owned and operated by Phoenix Air is its fleet of Gray Birds, highly modified Learjet 35/36 aircraft with internal EA, EW, ECM and ECCM systems, internal mission power, array of external antennas, and hard points under each wing for external pod or tow reel carriage.

Utilizing Phoenix Air’s custom interior modular design system, these aircraft can be quickly configured for client-specified requirements allowing Phoenix Air jets to perform multiple roles during mission sorties. Phoenix Air Gray Birds are the ultimate in “plug and play” technology.

Gulfstream Aircraft
Phoenix Air also owns and operates Gulfstream G-I turboprop aircraft configured for “special missions” sorties. These aircraft have a large interior to allow the installation of multiple operator control stations and bulky electronic equipment. These aircraft come equipped with internal mission power, external antennas and under-belly hard points for external pod carriage.
AERIAL TARGET TOWING
Phoenix Air has modified many of its Gray Bird Learjets and Gulfstream G-I aircraft to provide aerial target towing capability. Company specialists install the Meggitt Defense Systems RM-30 two-way Tow Reel onto aircraft external hard points. An electronics warfare officer inside the aircraft controls these tow reels. The RM-30 allows the aerial target to be released from the aircraft and deployed up to 30,000-feet behind the aircraft on either a high-strength metal wire or non-radar reflective cord. At completion of the mission, the target can be reeled back to the aircraft and secured for landing, allowing expensive aerial arrays to be used multiple times.

Aerial Targets include:

Hayes TLX-1 Height-Keeping Aerial Target
TPT (Onboard I.R. Source Aerial Target)
EXW-1, TRX-9, RTT-9 Aerial Targets (Gunnery Targets)
Missed Distance Indicator (MDI) Aerial Target Heads and Scoring System available on modified EXW-1 targets (allows large caliber guns and cannons accuracy measurements without destroying the aerial target)
Aerial Targets can be equipped as any of the following:

Visual – Light, Smoke, Banner, Sleeve
Radar – Luneberg, Reflectors
Infrared – Propane, Jet Fuel
Height Keepers
Calibrated Spheres for Radar Calibration

a reply to: putnam6

Like these:







All the pictures I can find of N56PA, it appears that it was primarily used as a target towing aircraft when it wasn't being used as a medevac. It's still too early to say conclusively that it was a friendly fire incident, but that does make it seem more likely, as speculation.

originally posted by: nerbot

originally posted by: Dalamax
You’d think there would be some kind of failsafe with a missile tracking up the cable. Like a deadman jettison kind of thing?

Those kind of things would obviously be having maintenance or software updates for the day.

Wait for the spoon facts to arrive and see how they flow eh?

I was kind of thinking of an automated safety, I guess your right and the spoon facts (?) should be in soon.

Thanks for the heads up.

originally posted by: Zaphod58
a reply to: M5xaz

Could be. Wouldn't be the first. Far too early to tell though.

"Wouldn't be the first. " ????

Which others ?

a reply to: M5xaz

Off the top of my head there was an A-6 during RIMPAC in the 90s, and a Lear in Taiwan. Both were cases of the wrong target being tracked.

Who were the passengers, backgrounds and affiliations?

a reply to: Arnie123

Phoenix Air employees.