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NTSB Publishes 1,500 Pages on Philadelphia Medevac Jet Crash Without Identifying Cause

The records reveal a sharp left turn, a violent high-speed dive, a pitch-trim anomaly, regulatory gaps, a nonfunctional cockpit voice recorder requiring further technical analysis.

Overview

  • The Learjet 55 crashed on Jan. 31, 2025, killing eight people including six aboard and two on the ground after turning left and entering a rapid, steep descent.
  • Investigators found both engines at full power and recorded a descent rate near 10,000 feet per minute with the airplane accelerating above 275 mph before impact.
  • Pieces of the pitch-trim system were recovered showing a 3.97° setting instead of the expected 5.5°, but the NTSB has not concluded whether that discrepancy contributed to the loss of control.
  • The jet’s cockpit voice recorder had been inoperative for years and Mexican rules did not require one for this older aircraft, reducing available voice evidence for the probe.
  • The factual docket details wreckage, a large debris field and safety oversight issues tied to Med Jets’ prior accidents and limited FAA notification, and the NTSB says more analysis is needed before it can determine probable cause.