NTSB Recovers Cockpit Voice Recorder From Learjet 60 Crash in Florida

The National Transportation Safety Board announced on Monday that it recovered the cockpit voice recorder from the Learjet 60 that crashed near Greenacres, Florida, killing all nine people on board.

NTSB investigators have recovered the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) of the Learjet 60 that crashed on Nov. 1 near Greenacres, Florida, the agency said on X.

According to the NTSB, the device was found at the location of the initial impact. The cockpit voice recorder is currently being evaluated at the board’s Vehicle Recorders Laboratory in Washington, D.C. The excavation work at the impact site has been completed following days of recovery efforts that began after utility workers drained water and cleared hazards.

Investigators Recover Wreckage from the Learjet 60 Crash Site

Earlier last week, investigators recovered the left tail elevator in three separate pieces, with one piece located nearly four miles from the crash site. Investigators also recovered part of an engine after digging began.

NTSB recovers cockpit voice recorder from Learjet 60 crash in Florida

The Learjet 60 departed from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport around 10:37 a.m. on Sunday, heading for North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas, before plunging into the ground in Palm Beach County shortly before 1 p.m. The crash killed Austin tech entrepreneur Adam Robinson, 45, his wife Helen Sharp, 40, their children Emma and Charlie, the children’s nanny Anita Maria Cetina, and couple Rachael Reed and Charmi Fehr.

Heavy Thunderstorms Focus the Investigation into the Flight Path

Heavy rain and thunderstorms were reported across South Florida during the flight, and investigators stated that the weather will be a major focus of their probe. Air traffic records show that at about 41,000 feet, a controller informed the flight crew about moderate precipitation approximately five miles away and advised they could move left or right, while noting that a turn toward Freeport looked poor.

The crew was subsequently instructed to fly to a waypoint near Naples, Florida. Instead, the crew made a deviation toward Palm Beach County, reported deteriorating weather conditions including icing and turbulence, and asked the controller if a better ride lay ahead.