Pilot reported managing ice before Learjet crash killed nine in Florida
Audio from air traffic control captures the final moments of the flight from Austin to the Bahamas.
By Sergio Ramirez ·
A Learjet 60 nosedived at 363 mph just before it hit a neighborhood in Palm Beach County, Florida. The crash on Sunday killed all nine people on board the aircraft. A massive fireball erupted at the scene, leaving a large crater along a busy road.
The jet departed from Austin, Texas, bound for the Bahamas. Federal Aviation Administration records show the pilot began reporting weather issues en route. Audio from air traffic control captured the pilot stating, "We're managing the ice, but it is moderate turbulence." The pilot then issued multiple distress calls during the severe weather.
In the final moments, the pilot declared a Mayday. The transmission recorded the aircraft descending at 10,000 feet per minute. The messages became more urgent as the pilot reported an overspeed condition while dropping 20,000 feet per minute. Data from the plane indicated it was flying at nearly 9,000 feet before the rapid descent.
Officials identified the captain as Jeffrey Gregory, 55. The co-pilot was Nathalia Filgueiras, 20. Passengers included an Austin couple, Adam Robinson, 44, and Helen Sharp, 40. Their two children, ages 2 and 4, were also on board. Three other passengers, two in their 30s and one in their 20s, had their names withheld pending family notification.
Robert Sumwalt, a former National Transportation Safety Board chair, noted the difficulty of regaining control after icing. He explained that ice adds weight and disrupts airflow across the wings. "Any disruption to the flow of air across the top of the wing can severely affect the aerodynamic performance of the airplane," Sumwalt said.
NTSB board member Tom Chapman spoke at a news conference on Monday. He stated the aircraft likely broke up before impact. Parts of the plane may be found far from the crash site. No one on the ground was killed, though one person suffered a leg injury. Residents described the impact as intense. Aki Kuusisto said the sound was like a whistle and a boom that shook their car.
The NTSB is leading the investigation into the crash.
