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forwarding a flight clearance to another aircraft in the area, the specialist again attempted to contact N243F but was unsuccessful.
Ten persons on the ground saw the aircraft during the takeoff or in flight. Three of them were pilots qualified in the Lear Jet, two of whom overheard the transmissions incident to the flight while monitoring the Thermal FSS radio frequency. The pilots described the takeoff was normal, and said it was within one minute that the pilot initiated the call that proved to be the last known transmission from the flight. One of these pilots reported that there were approximately seven aircraft airborne awaiting IFR clearances from the Thermal FSS when N2h3F departed. Air traffic clearance delays were amounting to as much as one hour due to the traffic leaving the airport after an air show.
A Lear Jet pilot who landed at Palm Springs shortly before N243F departed, stated that, "The weather was not at all good. Even though the ceiling was at apprOXimately 3,000 feet, there were patches of clouds scattered at lower altitudes. It was also an extremely dark night, and raining. Personally, I feel that attempting to remain VFR . . . under these conditions, particularly in a jet type aircraft, can be extremely dangerous. . . ."
Other witness observations indicate that after takeoff the flight pro- ceeded more than 1-1/2 miles southeast of the airport, and then began a left turn. One witness reported that he saw the lights of the aircraft disappear momentarily and reappear. He said that he then turned his attention from the plane and seconds later saw a bright flash out of the corner of his eye. Two persons, located one mile north of the crash site, stated they saw a moderate size airplane flying north or northeast under the clouds and then saw it dive
