Investigators Looking for Cause of Learjet Crash Say Ice Was ‘Certainly a Factor’

US investigators are examining icing and turbulence after a Learjet 60 crashed in Greenacres, Florida, on 1 November, killing all nine people aboard. The aircraft was travelling from Austin, Texas, to the Bahamas. Its crew reported light ice and moderate turbulence while flying at about 35,000 feet, then requested a climb as they encountered precipitation. Less than 30 seconds later, they reported a rapid descent and declared an emergency. The jet struck the ground near a residential area; one person on the ground suffered a leg injury.

National Transportation Safety Board member Tom Chapman said ice and turbulence were ‘certainly a factor’ for investigators to examine, but the cause has not been established. Investigators have found preliminary evidence that parts of the aircraft may have separated before impact. They are assessing the weather at the jet’s altitude, the crew’s actions and the aircraft’s condition, while recovering wreckage from a rain-filled crater. The board says its findings remain preliminary.