The Smart Marty Sky Dispatch
NTSB recovers cockpit voice recorder from Learjet crash site in Florida
The NTSB recovered the cockpit voice recorder from the Learjet 60 crash site near Greenacres, Florida, as investigators probe the cause of the incident.
NTSB investigators have recovered the cockpit voice recorder from the Learjet 60 that crashed near Greenacres, Florida, last week, and the device is being evaluated in the board’s Vehicle Recorders Laboratory in Washington, D.C.
The CVR was found at the location of the initial impact and excavation work at the site has been completed. Earlier efforts yielded a recovered engine part and the left tail elevator in multiple pieces during the ongoing investigation.
The Learjet 60 departed Austin-Bergstrom International Airport around 10:37 a.m. and the crash occurred in Palm Beach County shortly before 1 p.m., with all nine people on board reported deceased.
Investigators note that heavy rain and thunderstorms were reported across South Florida, and weather will be a major focus of the probe. Controllers had warned of moderate precipitation and advised the crew about flight path options as conditions deteriorated.
The timeline and final moments are being reviewed as part of the ongoing investigation, including the crew’s reported icing and turbulence and their requests for a potentially smoother ride ahead. The CVR evidence will contribute to clarifying what happened.