Accident Learjet 24D N77JL, Wednesday 12 November 2003

Date:	Wednesday 12 November 2003
Time:	06:45
Type:	Learjet 24D
Owner/operator:	Multi-Aero, Inc.
Registration:	N77JL
MSN:	24-286
Year of manufacture:	1974
Total airframe hrs:	6653 hours
Cycles:	6504 flights
Engine model:	General Electric CJ610-6
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 4
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Destroyed, written off
Category:	Accident
Location:	Belleville, IL - United States of America
Phase:	Initial climb
Nature:	Executive
Departure airport:	Saint Louis-Bi-State Parks Airport, MO (CPS/KCPS)
Destination airport:	North Platte-Lee Bird Field, NE (LBF/KLBF)
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
Shortly after departure from St. Louis' Downtown Airport runway 12R the pilot carried out a forced landing due to a loss of engine power. The Learjet crash-landed in a field and burst into flames some four miles from the airport. The airplane had encountered a flock of birds, presumably European starlings.

PROBABLE CAUSE: "The total loss of power to the right engine and the partial loss of power to the left engine after the airplane encountered a flock of birds during initial climb out, resulting in impeded ram induction airflow."

Accident investigation: