The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released preliminary findings regarding the plane crash that occurred in Northeast Philadelphia on January 31, which resulted in the deaths of seven people.
On Thursday, the NTSB reported that they successfully cleaned and repaired the cockpit voice recorder, commonly known as the “black box.” This recorder was buried eight feet underground due to the impact of the crash. However, investigators noted that the device did not capture any audio from the final flight, and it is likely that it had not been recording for several years.
Additionally, the Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System (EGPWS) was recovered from the crash site. The NTSB indicated that this system may contain flight data and has been sent to the manufacturer for evaluation, which is still ongoing.
At the time of the incident, the flight crew was in communication with the air traffic control tower. The NTSB confirmed that there was no distress call from the crew prior to the crash.
The report highlighted that both pilots were experienced, with the pilot in command logging 9,200 hours of flight experience. Both were certified to operate the Learjet 55.
Investigators also determined that the aircraft descended at a 22-degree angle, as indicated by a commercial sign it struck during the descent. The crash resulted in a debris field measuring 1,410 feet long and 840 feet wide.
The investigation is ongoing as officials continue to gather data and analyze the circumstances surrounding this tragic event.
