John I. Leonard High School Closes After 9 Die in Learjet 60 Crash Nearby

Q: What critical failure turned severe icing into a deadly, rapid descent for a private jet over a populated Florida neighborhood?

The critical failure appears to have been a loss of control after the jet entered an overspeed, high-rate descent while in icing and storm conditions. Radio traffic and flight data show the Learjet 60 crew initially reported “light, clear ice,” moderate turbulence and then precipitation, and asked to climb out of the weather. Within moments, the pilots declared an emergency, reporting the aircraft was descending at 10,000 feet per minute, then 20,000 feet per minute, in an overspeed condition. Tracking data indicated the jet lost about 27,000 feet in roughly a minute before impact. That pattern points to more than icing alone. Icing can sharply degrade lift, raise stall speed and make the airplane harder to control. In a business jet, a severe upset can quickly turn into a dive that accelerates beyond design limits. Once the aircraft entered that uncontrolled descent, the crew appears to have been unable to arrest it. Investigators have not yet issued a final cause, and the FAA and NTSB are still examining the wreckage, weather, aircraft systems and cockpit communications. But based on the evidence available so far, the deadly chain was severe weather and ice leading to an aerodynamic upset, followed by a rapid overspeed descent from which the pilots could not recover over the Florida neighborhood.

3 articles · Updated · WPEC · Nov 2

John I. Leonard High School in Greenacres will stay closed Monday as emergency crews continue working at the nearby crash site on Military Trail.
Nine people aboard a Learjet 60 were killed after the jet crashed into a residential area near Cresthaven around 12:50 p.m. Sunday, after departing Austin and heading to the Bahamas.
The NTSB is leading the investigation with FAA assistance, while all other Palm Beach County district-operated schools are scheduled to open Monday.
Heavy rain into Monday morning could delay buses and slow car lines across the district, which also noted all district-operated schools are already set to close Tuesday for Election Day.