The cause of the Florida Learjet crash that claimed nine lives remains unknown as investigators continue examining the tragedy. However, an experienced plane captain has now shared his theory, suggesting the pilots may have overlooked an important detail shortly before the fatal accident.
The reason behind Sunday’s plane crash in Palm Springs, Florida, which killed nine people, including a family of four, has yet to be determined. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is still investigating, and there is currently no clear timeline for when its findings will be released.
Possible factors include ice, turbulence, and human error.
The Learjet 60 private aircraft had departed from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas and was traveling toward the Bahamas when the incident occurred over Florida.
At approximately 12:50 p.m. local time on Sunday, the aircraft suddenly began losing altitude before descending rapidly and crashing onto a highway.
The impact caused a massive fireball, created a large crater in the roadway, and scattered debris across the surrounding area.
Authorities identified the pilot as 55-year-old Jeff Gregory and the co-pilot as 20-year-old Nathalia Gadelha Filgueira. Although the exact cause remains unknown, severe weather has emerged as one possible explanation.
Plane Captain Shares Details Pilots May Have Missed Before Florida Crash
An aviation expert has suggested that the pilots may have overlooked a potentially critical detail that could have played a role in the disaster. Captain Steeeve, an experienced pilot who previously flew for American Airlines, discussed his analysis of the air traffic control (ATC) recording in a video shared on his YouTube channel.
He highlighted a potentially significant moment when the co-pilot changed radio frequencies and established contact with another air traffic controller.
According to Captain Steeeve, the aircraft may not yet have appeared on the new controller’s radar screen. If that was the case, the controller might have had difficulty identifying the aircraft’s position and warning the pilots about the dangerous weather ahead.
“I’m not sure he can see that thunderstorm they’re about to fly into,” Captain Steeeve said.
He also examined radar footage that appeared to show the Learjet moving directly toward an area highlighted in yellow and red, colors indicating a thunderstorm.
Investigators May Uncover More Information, Expert Says
The aviation expert explained that experienced pilots would generally be expected to identify dangerous weather using their aircraft’s onboard radar and adjust their route to avoid it.
However, the circumstances could have been different if the plane’s radar system was not functioning correctly.
Captain Steeeve emphasized that there is currently no evidence indicating that the radar system had malfunctioned. Nevertheless, he suggested that investigators could discover more details as they examine the aircraft wreckage and available flight data.
He also expressed concern about the co-pilot’s description of the turbulence shortly before the crash. In the ATC recording, she reportedly said the aircraft was moving approximately 700 feet above or below its intended altitude.
According to the expert, such significant altitude changes could indicate extremely severe turbulence and potentially a loss of aircraft control.
“If you can’t maintain altitude plus or minus 700 ft, you don’t really have full aircraft controllability,” he explained.
Severe Icing ‘Could’ Have Contributed to the Disaster
Captain Steeeve acknowledged that pilots may describe and assess turbulence differently. However, he questioned whether the aircraft could still have been fully controllable under those conditions.
He also revisited his earlier theory that severe icing might have contributed to the accident. Ice accumulating in certain areas of an aircraft can interfere with airflow over its wings, potentially reducing the lift required to remain airborne.
When airflow becomes disrupted, an aircraft may lose lift and begin descending rapidly. The expert suggested that this possibility could help explain the alarming sequence of events captured in the air traffic control recording, including the co-pilot’s Mayday call as the situation worsened.
He described a possible scenario in which ice continued accumulating until the aircraft could no longer maintain stable flight.
However, these explanations remain theories rather than confirmed findings. Investigators have not yet established what caused the Learjet to crash, and the final determination will depend on the evidence gathered during the ongoing investigation.
Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by this heartbreaking tragedy. May those who lost their lives rest in peace.
