NTSB to review Learjet 60 history during Florida crash investigation
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The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will examine the operational history of the Learjet 60 as part of its investigation into the fatal crash in Florida on 1 November.
Speaking during a media briefing on Tuesday, NTSB board member Tom Chapman said investigators would review both the model’s historical record and the history of the specific aircraft involved in the accident.
“I don’t believe we have any indication that there’s a history of this type of accident with this model of aircraft,” Chapman said.
“We’ll certainly look for trends not only with this model of aircraft – I’m not aware of any right now – but also with this specific aircraft too, whether there’s any history.”
The comments come as investigators continue to analyse wreckage, weather data, maintenance records and other evidence from the crash. No cause has yet been determined.
What is known about the Learjet 60’s operating history?
The Learjet 60 entered service in the early 1990s and has been widely used in corporate, charter and private aviation.
As with many aircraft types that have operated for decades, the Learjet 60 has been involved in a number of accidents and incidents during its service life. However, those events occurred in different circumstances and investigations have identified a range of contributing factors.
2008 Columbia accident
One of the most significant accidents involving the type occurred in September 2008, when a Learjet 60 overran the runway during a rejected take-off at Columbia Metropolitan Airport in South Carolina. Four people were killed.
The NTSB found that the accident involved a combination of tyre maintenance issues, pilot actions and aircraft-system factors, and issued a number of safety recommendations following the investigation.
Other accidents involving the Learjet 60 have included runway overruns and approach-and-landing incidents, but they have not necessarily involved the same causes or circumstances.
What are investigators looking at after the Florida crash?
At present, investigators have not identified any connection between the Florida incident and previous Learjet 60 accidents.
The review forms part of the NTSB’s wider investigation into the accident, which remains ongoing.
For now, the agency says it has no indication that the Florida accident forms part of a known pattern involving the Learjet 60.
