NTSB Report Reveals Crucial Details in Philly Crash

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released its preliminary report on the tragic plane crash in Northeast Philadelphia on January 31, shedding light on the final moments of the ill-fated flight.

Key Takeaways:

• The Learjet 55 crashed just one minute after takeoff, resulting in multiple fatalities and injuries.
• The cockpit voice recorder had not been functioning for several years prior to the accident.
• Investigators are still analyzing the Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System for potential flight data.

The NTSB's preliminary report offers a detailed account of the January 31 plane crash in Northeast Philadelphia, which claimed the lives of all six individuals on board and one person on the ground. The Learjet 55, carrying two pilots, two medical crew members, and two passengers, was airborne for approximately one minute before it struck a concrete sidewalk in a residential and commercial area, exploding upon impact.

Weather conditions on the night of the incident were reported as overcast with 6-mile visibility. The aircraft departed from Northeast Philadelphia Airport (PNE) at 6:06 p.m., bound for Springfield-Branson National Airport (SGF) in Missouri. According to the report, the plane proceeded southwest, made a slight right turn, and then entered a gradual left turn. It reached an altitude of 1,650 feet before the crash occurred.

Notably, the flight crew maintained communication with PNE air traffic control throughout the brief flight, with no distress calls reported. The impact of the crash resulted in serious injuries to four people on the ground, with an additional 20 individuals suffering minor injuries.

Investigators recovered the 'black box' and cockpit voice recorder (CVR) from the crash site, buried under 8 feet of soil and debris. However, the NTSB report revealed that the CVR had likely not been recording audio for several years, potentially complicating the investigation.

As part of the ongoing probe, the airplane's Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System has been sent to the manufacturer for evaluation, as it may contain crucial flight data in its nonvolatile memory.

The report also provided information on the pilots' qualifications. The pilot-in-command held an airline transport pilot certificate with 9,200 total flight hours, while the second-in-command pilot had a commercial pilot certificate and 2,600 total flight hours. Both pilots held medical certificates issued by Mexico's Agencia Federal de Aviación Civil (AFAC).

As the investigation continues, the NTSB and FAA are working to piece together the events leading to this tragic incident. The findings from this preliminary report will undoubtedly play a crucial role in understanding the circumstances surrounding the crash and potentially preventing similar accidents in the future.