NTSB Finds Evidence the Florida Learjet Began Breaking Apart Before It Hit the Ground
The crew reported turbulence and icing at 35,000 feet, then a rapid descent less than 30 seconds after being cleared to climb.
By Watchman Report staff ·
National Transportation Safety Board investigators have found evidence that the Learjet 60 that crashed in Palm Beach County, Florida, on Sunday, killing all nine people aboard, may have begun breaking apart before impact, AvWeb reported. "We do have some evidence that there was some breakup of the aircraft before impact," NTSB member Thomas B. Chapman said at a briefing Monday. "We're still seeking to determine that."
According to the NTSB, the crew reported moderate turbulence causing altitude deviations of about 700 feet at 35,000 feet, along with manageable clear icing. Less than 30 seconds after air traffic control approved a climb to 37,000 feet, the crew reported a rapid descent and declared an emergency. Heavy rain and thunderstorms were occurring in the area, Reuters reported.
Investigators said the debris field measures roughly half a mile by four-tenths of a mile. They have not determined the cause, and maintenance records indicate a cockpit voice recorder was installed, though it is not yet known whether it was still aboard. The jet was flying from Austin, Texas, to the Bahamas.
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