Learjet crash debris punches hole in woman's roof; aviation expert examines clues to deadly crash

A piece of metal believed to be from the Learjet crash damaged a woman's roof less than a mile from the crash site, creating a hole and causing part of her kitchen ceiling to collapse. WPBF 25 News Investigates provided exclusive photos of the suspected wreckage and home damage.

The National Transportation Safety Board said it recovered most of the Learjet’s left elevator in three pieces, found between 1.3 and 3.8 miles from the crash site. The evidence shows the pieces separated before impact, though investigators have not determined the cause of the separation.

Aviation attorneys and experts discussed possible explanations for the debris, including fatigue or overload, and noted that factors like turbulence and icing can contribute to both. The expert emphasized that the Learjet 60 is certified for moderate icing and turbulence, but investigators must assess whether conditions exceeded those limits.

Witness accounts and debris discoveries raised questions about the sequence of events, including whether excessive speed might have contributed to the breakup or whether a structural failure led to a loss of control. Copilot-reported exceeding speed could be a potential clue, but investigators have not established what happened first.

Authorities continue examining the crash crater, multiple pieces of wreckage scattered across miles, and the jet’s maintenance history, weather conditions, and flight crew records. They are also investigating whether a cockpit voice recorder was aboard and if any recording survived the impact.