Cockpit recorder found in Florida Learjet crash
Investigators recovered the voice recorder at the Palm Beach County impact site after a week of excavation.
By Talia Bennett ·
Nine people died when a Learjet 60 crashed in Palm Beach County, Florida, on Nov. 1. The National Transportation Safety Board announced on Monday that it has recovered the cockpit voice recorder from the site.
The recorder was located at the point of initial impact. NTSB officials stated that the device is now undergoing evaluation at the agency's Vehicle Recorders Laboratory in Washington, D.C. The board confirmed that excavation work at the crash site is complete.
Crews began digging on Wednesday after utility workers drained water and removed other hazards. During the excavation, investigators found a portion of one engine. This recovery followed a Friday announcement that part of the aircraft's engine had been retrieved.
Earlier in the week, investigators recovered the left tail elevator in three separate pieces. One fragment was found nearly four miles from the crash location. The tail elevator controls the jet's pitch. The agency noted that even small wreckage pieces may contain evidence to determine the cause of the accident.
The aircraft departed Austin-Bergstrom International Airport around 10:37 a.m. on Sunday. It was heading to North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas. The jet hit the ground in Palm Beach County shortly before 1 p.m.
Adam Robinson, a 45-year-old Austin tech entrepreneur, was among those killed. His wife Helen Sharp, 40, and their children Emma, 4, and Charlie, 2, also died in the crash. The children's nanny, Anita Maria Cetina, and companions Rachael Reed and Charmi Fehr were also on board.
Heavy rain and thunderstorms affected South Florida at the time of the crash. Investigators said weather conditions will be a major focus of the probe. At roughly 41,000 feet, a controller advised the crew that moderate precipitation was five miles away. The crew was instructed to fly to a waypoint near Naples, Florida, but deviated toward Palm Beach County.
The crew reported deteriorating weather, icing, and turbulence to air traffic control. They asked if a better ride was available ahead. The flight ended when the aircraft plunged into the ground.
