All we know as missing clue may answer cause of Florida Learjet crash

It could take more than a year to determine the exact cause of the Learjet 60 that plummeted from the sky in Florida and killed nine people – but experts are already making progress with their investigation.

The business plane, which was heading to the Bahamas, crashed on Sunday 1 November at approximately 12.50pm local time after encountering a thunderstorm.

It slammed into the ground with such force it created a crater and shattered the aircraft – with parts being found up to 3.8 miles away from the site.

Here’s a look at what we know about the crash so far

Learjet may have started to break apart before it crashed

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) which is leading the investigation said on Tuesday that pieces of a key part of the jet’s tail called the elevator, which controls the angle of the nose, were found more than a mile away from the main crash site.

This suggests that the plane had already started to break apart before impact.

“Knowing that it was lost is a very important piece of evidence in terms of pointing us towards other things to investigate,” said Tom Chapman, a member of the NTSB.

What missing clue could help investigators?

Investigators are still searching for the Learjet’s cockpit voice recorder. They say it could provide useful details about what the pilots were talking about as they lost control of the plane after it encountered turbulence and ice started to build up on the wings.

Chapman said, if intact, the cockpit voice recorder will offer “very important data” but won’t doom the investigation if it isn’t found.

“Without it, our folks are very, very good. We’re still able to do some incredible detective work and determine how things transpired,” he aded.

The co-pilot told air traffic controllers that the plane was being thrown up and down more than 213 metres as she asked them for a better route through the area. It is not yet clear why the pilots hadn’t chosen to fly around the storms.

Torrential rains over the state in recent weeks are making the investigation even more difficult. The crater was filling with rainwater that likely left some pieces of the plane submerged, and a utility pole had to be removed.

How long will the investigation take?

The initial NTSB investigation will take around a month. During this time, experts will develop a preliminary report describing what happened. This is no easy feat as a fire caused from the crash destroyed much of the plane.

Investigators will be trying to clarify whether pilots knew that the storm was happening, and what the plane’s weather radar showed.

The weather will be a key early focus of the investigation, and will see NTSB work with the National Weather Service and Federal Aviation Administration to get a better idea of what the plane encountered as it was cruising at 35,000 feet.

Maintenance records of the plane will also be reviewed to check whether the aircraft had any previous issues. Officials at the Upper Jets company that operated the flight as well as air traffic controllers and people who work at the Texas airport the plane took off from will be interviewed.

In certain high-profile crashes, the NTSB may also hold several days of investigative hearings where investigators can question key people involved to learn more and share details with the public as they did after last year’s UPS plane crash.

However, it generally takes 12-18 months for the NTSB to complete a crash investigation – meaning it will be a while until the mystery is solved. This process can take longer in complicated cases

Final reports will include details about what happened and explain probable causes, alongside recommendations to prevent similar crashes and improve safety.