Parts of a Learjet 60’s left elevator were found as far as 3.8 miles from the site of Sunday’s fatal crash in Florida, and investigators believe they separated from the aircraft before impact. The National Transportation Safety Board has not determined whether the separation caused the jet to descend or resulted from forces on the aircraft.
NTSB board member Tom Chapman said investigators recovered “the majority” of the elevator in three pieces, between 1.3 and 3.8 miles from the crash site. The elevator is a tail control surface that helps move the aircraft’s nose up or down. Chapman said the distance made the debris an important line of investigation. Associated Press reported his comments.
The Learjet crashed on Nov. 1 after departing Austin, Texas, for North Eleuthera in the Bahamas. All nine people aboard died when the aircraft struck a multi-lane road and caught fire. The NTSB investigation record lists the inquiry as ongoing and the available information as preliminary.
Investigators are examining weather and flight data
Chapman said investigators have not established whether the left elevator’s loss contributed to the jet’s descent or whether forces during the descent broke it away. The NTSB is also examining the role of weather.
Air traffic control recordings captured a cockpit voice reporting moderate turbulence and saying the crew was managing ice. The voice later said the aircraft was picking up precipitation and needed to climb. Shortly afterward, the crew reported a rapid descent and declared an emergency.
The crash killed seven passengers and the two pilots. Investigators have said the force of impact severely damaged the wreckage, complicating the examination. The recovered elevator pieces add evidence for the inquiry, but the cause of the crash remains undetermined.