Florida Learjet crash investigators prepare to examine impact crater

Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) say they expect to start investigating the crash crater where the Learjet 60 crashed.

The plane came down in Florida on 1 November, killing the two crew members and seven passengers onboard.

Speaking at a press conference last night (3 November) NTSB board member Tom Chapman said crews were preparing the site so investigators could begin work in and around the crater.

“NTSB is working with local public works teams to begin water removal from the impact crater so our investigation in and around the crater can begin,” he said. “We believe that will begin tomorrow [Wednesday] in terms of being able to access the crater.”

Chapman said the removal of an unstable utility pole had been an important step in making the area safe to examine.

“A key step was the removal of an unstable utility pole this morning and that took quite a bit of work. That helps us now access the crater and begin to stabilise it.”

“Challenging” impact site

Investigators believe important evidence remains at the site despite the difficult conditions.

Asked whether critical components, including flight recorders, could still be recovered from the crater, Chapman said: “I feel confident that they’re going to find the evidence that they need within that crater despite the challenges.

“I feel confident they’re going to find what they need to help put together what happened here and why it happened.”

The briefing also disclosed that a large section of the aircraft’s left elevator was recovered up to a few miles from the impact site, highlighting the wide debris field investigators are working to document.

The investigation has also been complicated by weather and by the severity of the impact. Chapman said much of the wreckage recovered so far consists of very small fragments.

“You’ve seen the video, you know, with the force of that impact,” he said. “Even the elements of the aircraft that are in the crater are very likely in smaller pieces.

“So we don’t know exactly what all we have yet, but that’s part of the investigation very early here. It’s a big puzzle to try to put together.”

Investigators reviewing dashcam footage and eyewitness accounts

Investigators spent much of Tuesday collecting and documenting wreckage, while also gathering information from people who witnessed the accident.

“Witnesses have been quite helpful and we’ve now received dashcam footage and multiple eyewitness accounts that will help us better understand the condition of the aircraft and the circumstances of the crash,” Chapman said.

Florida Learjet victims named

The passengers have been named as entrepreneur Adam Robinson, 44, his wife Helen Sharp, 40, their two children Emma, four, and Charlie, two. Also onboard was the family’s nanny Anita Maria Cetina and two family friends Rachael Reed and Charmi Fehr.

The pilot has been identified as Jeff Gregory, 55, from Pennsylvania and the co-pilot as Nathalia Gadelha, 20.

Left elevator found miles from crash site

The NTSB revealed that a large portion of the aircraft’s left elevator was found a few miles from the main impact site.

Investigators have not indicated what significance the discovery may have, but the location of the component will form part of the wider investigation into the aircraft’s condition before the crash.

Chapman urged anyone who finds suspected wreckage not to touch or move it, and instead contact the NTSB or local authorities so it can be properly documented and recovered.

The NTSB has not released any preliminary findings and said the investigation remains in its early stages.