NTSB: Learjet 60 crew reported icing, turbulence shortly before deadly Palm Beach County crash

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating a Learjet 60 crash in Palm Beach County that killed all nine people aboard. NTSB members described gathering weather data and debris as part of a preliminary timeline released after Sunday’s incident.

The aircraft, operated by Aurora Aviation doing business as Upper Jets, departed Austin-Bergstrom International Airport around 10:37 a.m. ET bound for North Eleuthera in the Bahamas, with two flight crew members and seven passengers on board.

Crews reported icing, moderate turbulence, and precipitation within minutes of the loss of control, approximately 12:47 p.m. local time. They were at about 35,000 feet and later requested an ascent to 37,000 feet before the descent rapid descended and a mayday call was issued.

Investigators indicated the plane appeared to begin breaking apart before impact, and the debris field spans roughly a half-mile by four-tenths of a mile around the crash site near Greenacres and Palm Springs. A cockpit voice recorder has not yet been confirmed as aboard, though maintenance records show one had been installed.

More than 20 NTSB investigators have begun work at the scene, focusing on weather conditions and trying to determine whether icing and turbulence contributed to the crash, along with other factors. The investigation remains in its early stages, with recovery operations and scene analysis expected to continue for several days.