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Pieces of jet that crashed in Palm Beach County found miles away from impact site, NTSB says
CBS News • • nation
Key Points:
- Investigators found pieces of the Learjet 60 that crashed in Palm Beach County nearly 4 miles from the main crash site, indicating the plane likely broke apart before impact.
- The tail's elevator was found broken into three parts, which would have prevented pilots from controlling the plane's pitch and recovering from the nosedive.
- The co-pilot reported ice accumulation and severe turbulence minutes before the crash, with audio recordings capturing rapidly worsening conditions and a final "mayday" call.
- Nine people died in the crash, including a family of four from Austin, Texas, and the two pilots, with the other pilot identified as Jeff Gregory, who was heard reciting the Lord's Prayer during the descent.
- The crash occurred while the jet was traveling from Austin, Texas, to the Bahamas, and the investigation is focusing on the breakup of the aircraft and the severe weather conditions encountered.
