Investigators confirm jet broke apart before South Florida crash

National Transportation Safety Board member Tom Chapman confirmed on Tuesday that the tail of the Learjet that crashed in South Florida was found more than a mile from the impact crater. The debris field extended as far as 3.8 miles from the site in Greenacres, which is located about 7 miles southwest of West Palm Beach. Chapman said the discovery proves the aircraft was breaking apart in the air before it struck the ground on Sunday afternoon.

The tail elevator was broken into three separate pieces. Chapman explained that this component controls the pitch of the aircraft. He noted that while the speed might have made the elevator ineffective even if it had remained attached, its absence is a critical piece of evidence for investigators.

The co-pilot, Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras, reported severe turbulence and ice accumulation to air traffic controllers minutes before the crash. She described the plane moving up and down by more than 700 feet. Her final transmission included the words, “We’re going to die!” as the jet slammed into the ground and erupted in a fireball. Images from just before impact show the horizontal stabilizer missing from the tail.

Jeff Gregory, 55, was the pilot of the Bahamas-bound flight. He lived in Gilbertsville, Pennsylvania, and held airline transport pilot and flight instructor certificates. Friends described him as a devout Christian and a dedicated family man. A man’s voice was heard reciting the Lord’s Prayer in the background of the final radio transmissions. Friends believe it was Gregory.

Thomas Noetzel, the director of operations at Upper Jets, which operated the flight, started an online fundraiser to support Gregory’s wife and children. Noetzel called Gregory a close friend and said knowing him made him a better person. Walter Noetzel, Thomas’s father, posted on Facebook that Gregory was a deeply faithful man who loved the Lord. He wrote that he believes Gregory is now flying among the angels.

The crash killed technology entrepreneur Adam Robinson, his wife Helen Sharp, and their two young children. About 600 nearby residents remain displaced due to the impact. Only one injury was reported on the ground. The aircraft took off from Austin, Texas, and encountered bad weather before crashing.

The FAA has not yet determined the cause of the crash. Chapman said weather will be a key focus of the investigation. A preliminary report is expected in about a month, but a final determination on the cause will likely take more than a year.

Filgueiras texted her boyfriend about 10 minutes before the crash, warning him of turbulence and ice. These messages were sent before the situation became critical. In the final two minutes, her communications shifted from calm updates to panicked calls as the plane plummeted. Charter pilots are generally allowed to use cellphones while cruising at altitude unless their company or the pilot in command bans it.