Lombardo covers business aviation maintenance-related issues. He is also a writer and on-air reporter for AINtv. He has over 3000 articles published and is the author of several books on aircraft systems for pilots and on the topic of flight simulation.
He holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in education from the University of Illinois, has taught aviation for over 35 years in industry and as a university professor and academic dean at three different universities. He is also a frequent seminar and after-dinner motivational speaker.&nbsp;
Lombardo holds an A&amp;P Certificate, ATP, CFI and Ground Instructor ratings. He was a corporate pilot and was a research pilot and flight instructor at the University of Illinois. An FAA Safety Counselor for over 25 years, he was one of the original 13 Counselors appointed to the FAA’s Airworthiness Safety Program for maintenance technicians.&nbsp;

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David A. Lombardo

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.

The accident site, located in high desert terrain approximately three miles southeast of Helendale, consisted of an impact crater located on the top of a ridgeline. 

Investigators accounted for all flight controls at the accident site; however, the controls were severely damaged and flight-control continuity could not be established. No remnants of flight instruments were found at the accident site. The engines fractured into numerous sections, which were scattered throughout the debris field. The wreckage was collected and taken to a salvage facility for further examination at a later date.

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