NTSB: Learjet 60 May Have Disintegrated Before Palm Beach Crash

The National Transportation Safety Board stated that early evidence indicates a Learjet 60 may have broken apart in the air before impacting the ground near Palm Springs, Florida. The agency released this assessment on Monday, November 2, 2026, during a media briefing on the investigation into the crash that killed all nine people on board.

The aircraft departed Austin-Bergstrom International Airport at 10:37 a.m. on Sunday, November 1, 2026, heading to North Eleuthera in the Bahamas. Two flight crew members and seven passengers were aboard the jet.

At 12:47 p.m., the crew reported light clear icing and moderate turbulence to Miami Air Route Traffic Control Center. The plane was flying at 35,000 feet with altitude deviations of approximately 700 feet. The outside temperature was recorded as minus 47 degrees Celsius, or minus 53 degrees Fahrenheit.

The crew later requested permission to climb to 37,000 feet after encountering precipitation. Air traffic control approved the request. Less than 30 seconds later, the plane transmitted a descent report, followed by a mayday call.

At 12:48 p.m., the crew announced an overspeed condition and a rapid descent. Air traffic control recordings captured by FOX 13 show the pilot reporting a descent rate of 8,000 feet, then 10,000 feet per minute, before declaring an emergency. The pilot subsequently reported an overspeed condition and a descent of 20,000 feet per minute.

In the final moments, the pilot stated, "We're gonna crash into the ground." The pilot reported a descent of 22,000 feet per minute and a bank angle of 60 degrees. A final transmission said, "Look outside," before audio became difficult to understand.

Nathalia Gadelha, 20, was identified as the co-pilot. Her family told the New York Post that she earned her private pilot license at age 17 while attending West Boca Raton High School. She was pursuing a commercial airline pilot career when the crash occurred. Authorities have not yet released the identities of the other eight victims.

About 20 NTSB investigators arrived at the scene on Sunday evening, with additional staff arriving Monday. The Federal Aviation Administration is assisting with the investigation. Investigators are examining weather conditions at altitude and working to recover a cockpit voice recorder, if one was aboard.

NTSB Member Tom Chapman said the agency is examining the aircraft model's history but has not identified prior crashes involving that specific jet type. The wreckage was scattered near homes and businesses, and the impact left a large crater near a roadway.

One major challenge for investigators is recovering the main wreckage from the roadway. The agency is assessing roadway damage and considering permanent fixed routes around the crash site. Officials believe hundreds of people were evacuated from affected areas. Palm Beach County is under a state of emergency, and local leaders are coordinating temporary housing and rental car programs for affected residents and businesses.

The NTSB did not provide a timeline for completing its investigation. Weather conditions are affecting work at the scene. Investigators are interviewing witnesses and have asked the public to email witness@ntsb.gov with information. A person in a vehicle leaving the adjacent impact area suffered a leg injury.