@schadb The Philly medical plane crash involved a Learjet 55. Although a different model, it’s very similar to the Learjet 60, just slightly shorter. That aircraft dated back to 1982. Coincidence?
@TheCountryPapa I agree. Regardless of its maintenance history or the incident six months prior, pilots shouldn’t push an aircraft’s limits and gamble with the lives onboard.
NEW DETAILS WORTH EXAMINING…
This breakdown explores the ATC handoff and reconstructs the Learjet 60’s flight path in greater detail.
But the aircraft’s history may hold another important piece of the puzzle. PART 1.
@gimnich_chase Weather is normally checked during preflight planning. It’s possible the radar showed a larger gap initially, but conditions changed rapidly by the time they reached it.
@AlicefromWonde5@JohnSummersII1@idontwantguitar Ding ding ding!! You are correct Alice. These jets were not forgiving what so ever and considering the PIC was the older more experienced pilot he should have know this. ATC is telling you weather is extreme ahead why trust your radar and try and shoot the gap.
@Michael53541276 Sadly not all apples are sweet. I believe this is where pilot judgment comes into play. Most pilots know better than to squeeze through a gap in an aircraft like that. Good judgment is likely why we haven't seen more crashes.
@JohnSummersII1@AlicefromWonde5@idontwantguitar She wasn’t the pilot in command according to the flight record. So that responsibility lies on the captain which should have been flying that plane. Was he? I’m not one to give you 100% answer but that’s what should have been happening according to that specific flight plan.
@BehbehaniMark@Gamal01011960 Let’s not generalize and say any aircraft. Many airliners may be capable, but when it comes to smaller, more nimble jets, I don’t believe any should be flying into SLD conditions at -47°C.
@JohnSummersII1@AlicefromWonde5@idontwantguitar Experienced pilots have pointed out that her age has little to do with this and that she was qualified to serve as co-pilot. Many have praised what she accomplished at such a young age. I believe the captain bears more responsibility than the 20-year-old co-pilot.
@Flip5250 I also think the pilot’s decisions played a major role. Neither I nor the other experienced pilots I’ve spoken with understand why they pushed the aircraft’s limits and attempted to punch through a thunderstorm of that magnitude. That storm stretched across a 100 miles.
@Flip5250 I believe this company may have more involvement than we realize. The aircraft reportedly experienced severe turbulence in the past, and I wonder whether it was properly maintained afterward or corners were cut to save money. An incident like that warrants a thorough inspection.
@chazarti@TimKennedyMMA Yes it is but I didn’t use Tim Kennedy voice as a reference. This voice was bought from a third party company that has licensing rights to it.
@oneangrygeek Exactly, brother. People are so quick to blame the plane being 22 years old.. it all has to do with keeping up with maintenance. I brand new airplane doesn’t necessarily mean it’s safer.
@watkinssuzette1 Yeah, it's absolutely a fair question, especially with seven lives at stake. I do think private charter regulations need another look. Commercial airlines operate under much stricter requirements, and that distinction matters.
@negrittorico The aircraft isn't necessarily a bad plane; it has some very desirable characteristics. But it's not one you should push beyond its limits or attempt to force through severe weather. Pilots are responsible for knowing their aircraft's capabilities and limitations..
@engrbecker Those are great questions, and questioning everything is part of how investigations and public discussions should work. Glad you enjoyed it! Check out my page for more interesting aviation content!
@TopAlliedAceWW1 Interesting. Wouldn’t severe turbulence at that altitude make an accelerated stall more likely, especially if the aircraft was already near its performance limits?