A retired US fighter pilot says the Learjet 60 that crashed on a South Florida road, killing nine people, should have kept further away from a rapidly growing thunderstorm. In an analysis on his Pilot Debrief YouTube channel, former F-15E pilot and airline captain Hoover said the crew had already been cleared to change course around the weather. Trying to save five or ten minutes by flying close to storms wasn’t worth the risk, he argued. The storm was growing quickly.
At 12.36pm on 1 November, its tops were recorded below 33,000 feet while the Learjet was at 41,000 feet. Within about 20 minutes, the storm tops had reached 48,000 feet. As the aircraft descended through 35,000 feet, it entered the developing weather. The co-pilot later reported light clear ice and moderate turbulence, then requested a climb. Moments afterwards, the aircraft entered an upset and the crew declared an emergency. Its descent rate rose to more than 20,000 feet per minute.
Hoover said onboard weather radar should be used to avoid storms, not navigate through them. He assessed that pieces of the left elevator found miles from the crash site broke away during the plunge, rather than starting the loss of control. Federal investigators are still examining what happened.
At 12.36pm on 1 November, its tops were recorded below 33,000 feet while the Learjet was at 41,000 feet. Within about 20 minutes, the storm tops had reached 48,000 feet. As the aircraft descended through 35,000 feet, it entered the developing weather. The co-pilot later reported light clear ice and moderate turbulence, then requested a climb. Moments afterwards, the aircraft entered an upset and the crew declared an emergency. Its descent rate rose to more than 20,000 feet per minute.
Hoover said onboard weather radar should be used to avoid storms, not navigate through them. He assessed that pieces of the left elevator found miles from the crash site broke away during the plunge, rather than starting the loss of control. Federal investigators are still examining what happened.