Follow-Up Analysis Continues on El Cajon Accident

Pilot's decisions scrutinized in the loss of a Learjet 35 last week in California.

Meg Godlewski

Friday, January 07, 2022 at 12:27 PM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

A fatal Learjet accident on December 28 at Gillespie Field (KSEE) killed all four occupants, with the investigation focusing primarily on the flight crew's decisions.
Despite poor visibility and an IFR clearance for Runway 17, the pilots cancelled IFR to attempt a circle-to-land on Runway 27R, a maneuver explicitly "not authorized" at night under IFR for that approach.
The aircraft rapidly descended during a downwind turn for Runway 27R after the pilot expressed difficulty seeing the runway, with investigators exploring loss of situational awareness, misidentification of lights, or an unrecoverable low-altitude/low-speed spin as potential causes.

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The investigation into the December 28 fatal accident involving a Learjet at Gillespie Field (KSEE) in El Cajon, California, is focusing on the decisions made by the flight crew.

All four people on board the aircraft were killed during the approach gone bad. The San Diego County Medical Examiner’s office has identified them as pilots Douglas James Grande, 45, and Julian Jorge Bugaj, 67, and flight nurses Laurie Gentz, 68, and Tina Ward, 52.