The Eyrie

GREENACRES, FL — Federal investigators say the crew of a Learjet 60 reported light clear ice and moderate turbulence moments before the plane entered an overspeed condition, began descending rapidly and crashed in Greenacres, killing all nine people on board.

The National Transportation Safety Board said the aircraft transmitted a mayday call and then sent a final message that it was descending in an overspeed condition. The crash happened Sunday near South Military Trail in Palm Beach County and left investigators with a scattered debris field, a crater in the roadway and an active recovery effort complicated by water at the impact site.

Flight from Austin ended minutes after weather trouble began

The jet was operated by Aurora Aviation, doing business as Upper Jets, and had taken off from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport at about 10:37 a.m. Sunday. It was headed to North Eleuthera in the Bahamas with two flight crew members and seven passengers aboard.

NTSB board member Tom Chapman said the crew was flying at 35,000 feet when it contacted air traffic control around 12:47 p.m. The pilots reported light clear ice, moderate turbulence and altitude deviations of about 700 feet. They also said the outside temperature was minus 47 degrees Celsius, or minus 53 degrees Fahrenheit, and that they were managing the icing conditions.

After that, the crew reported precipitation and asked for permission to climb to 37,000 feet. Air traffic control approved the request, Chapman said, but less than 30 seconds later the aircraft said it was descending and then issued the distress call.

Investigators say the plane may have broken up before impact

Chapman said investigators have some evidence that the aircraft broke apart before it hit the ground, but they are not ready to say which parts separated or when that happened. Officials have not yet identified the debris they have recovered, and they have not determined whether any section, including part of the tail, detached in flight.

The crash site covers about half a mile by four-tenths of a mile and stretches across ball fields, businesses and homes, according to investigator Timothy Monville. He said some debris may be found beyond the main impact area.

The wreckage also includes a crater in the roadway, and the water in that crater has made access more difficult. Monville said investigators are still working to recover and examine what remains of the aircraft.

NTSB is still trying to determine whether weather played a role

Weather is one of the key questions in the case, but Chapman cautioned that the investigation is in its early stages and that no conclusions should be drawn yet. He said investigators still need to determine what the weather conditions were at the aircraft’s altitude.

The agency is also looking into whether the plane flew through an active thunderstorm and what the crew and air traffic controllers knew at the time. Chapman said investigators will review what actions were taken during the emergency and whether the co-pilot’s role can be determined from the available evidence.

Officials say they are not speculating about cause while the on-scene work continues. The NTSB does not issue a probable cause finding at the crash site.

Recorder search and witness calls remain part of the inquiry

Investigators are also trying to figure out whether a cockpit voice recorder was actually on the aircraft. Maintenance records show one was installed, but officials do not yet know whether it remained aboard or can be recovered from the wreckage.

The NTSB sent about 20 investigators to the scene, including specialists in aircraft systems and structures, flight recorders, weather and air traffic control. Representatives from the Federal Aviation Administration and Learjet’s manufacturer are also involved.

The agency said the on-site investigation should take several days. It is asking witnesses with photos, video or other relevant information to email [email protected], and it is urging anyone who finds debris to leave it in place and contact investigators or local authorities.

Ground injury adds another layer to the Palm Beach County crash scene

All nine people aboard the jet died in the crash, and one person on the ground was hurt. Investigators said a man in a vehicle leaving the area near the crash suffered a leg injury and is expected to be interviewed as part of the probe.

The aircraft’s co-pilot was identified as 20-year-old Nathalia Filgueiras. Officials have not released further details about the other victims.

The investigation will continue after the initial scene work is finished, with specialists expected to analyze recovered evidence, crew communications and weather data before any broader findings are made public.