John Lear
- Life status
- Confirmed deceased
- Profession
- Also recorded as
- John Olsen Lear · John O. Lear
- Born
- 3 December 1942
- Age
- 79 · as reported by KLAS 8 News Now (attributed), at the recorded event
- Died
- 29 March 2022 · known to the day
- Fields
- Not classified yet: categories await the owner’s taxonomy review
- Organisations
- Not stated
- Works
- None catalogued yet
In plain words
Directly involved in UFO activism: KLAS and the Museum of Flight describe him as known for UFO activism and UFO conspiracy theories; Earthfiles says he publicised Bob Lazar in the 1980s; Coast to Coast AM calls him a UFO researcher and longtime guest.
Biography
John Olsen Lear, Nevada aviator and UFO activist, son of Learjet founder Bill Lear, is the person described by KLAS (8 News Now), Earthfiles and the Museum of Flight archives.
Born on December 3, 1942, according to the Museum of Flight archives biographical note; Earthfiles gives the same date.
KLAS reported that he died at 79. Attributed
Pilot, known as a UFO conspiracy theorist and once a candidate for the Nevada State Senate, according to the Museum of Flight archives. Attributed
Took part in the 1966 round-the-world flight of a Lear Jet 23: the Smithsonian record lists John O. Lear as an alternate (Henry Beaird pilot-in-command), while Earthfiles says Lear and a crew mate flew the aircraft around the world. Attributed
Earthfiles states that during the Vietnam era he flew cargo planes for the CIA, and KNPR (2014) called him a former CIA pilot. No official source confirms this. Attributed
Directly involved in UFO activism: KLAS and the Museum of Flight describe him as known for UFO activism and UFO conspiracy theories; Earthfiles says he publicised Bob Lazar in the 1980s; Coast to Coast AM calls him a UFO researcher and longtime guest.
Died on March 29, 2022, according to the Museum of Flight archives; Earthfiles and KLAS, citing his daughter and wife, say he died in his sleep on the night of Tuesday, March 29, 2022.
Died at his home in Las Vegas, according to KLAS citing his daughter. Attributed
Died in his sleep at home, according to his daughter and wife as reported by Earthfiles and KLAS. Attributed
Not established
- Not establishedNo read source states a medical cause of death. Not established in the reviewed sources; KLAS, Earthfiles, Coast to Coast AM and Museum of Flight archives read 2026-11-11; family account only (died in his sleep).; checked 11 Nov 2026.
- Not establishedNo official record or determination was found. Not established in the reviewed sources; No coroner, death-record or funeral-home source found on 2026-11-11.; checked 11 Nov 2026.
Connection to UAP research
Directly involved in UFO activism: KLAS and the Museum of Flight describe him as known for UFO activism and UFO conspiracy theories; Earthfiles says he publicised Bob Lazar in the 1980s; Coast to Coast AM calls him a UFO researcher and longtime guest.
Works
No works catalogued in the approved record yet. Works mentioned in sources appear as attributed statements in the biography.
Timeline
Events and cases
No case file is published for this person. Recorded life events are in the timeline above; a case is opened only with its own evidence and review.
Sources
- UFO activist, Nevada aviator John Lear dies at 79 (opens in a new tab)KLAS-TV 8 News Now (Las Vegas), 2022 · News report · readAuthor: Ana Gutierrez
- Lear, John, 1942-2022 (agent record) (opens in a new tab)The Museum of Flight Archives (Seattle) · Institution · read
- In Memoriam John Olsen Lear (page title tag: Earthfiles) (opens in a new tab)Earthfiles (Linda Moulton Howe), 2022 · News report · readAuthor: Linda Moulton Howe
- Lear Jet 23 (object record) (opens in a new tab)Smithsonian Institution, National Air and Space Museum · Institution · read
- Out there (opens in a new tab)Desert Companion (Nevada Public Radio / KNPR), 2014 · News report · partly readAuthor: George Knapp
- RIP John Lear (opens in a new tab)Coast to Coast AM / iHeart, 2022 · News report · read