A small business jet crashed on a Texas highway in June, killing one person and injuring six. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released a preliminary investigation report stating that both engines flamed out before the crash, preventing the pilots from reaching a nearby airport.

Crash Details

The plane had departed from San José del Cabo, Mexico, and was headed to Austin, Texas. The flight crew noticed an unusual vibration early in the flight and discussed it with staff at NetJets, the company operating the jet. They were told they could proceed to their final destination.

As the jet approached the U.S.-Mexico border, the flight crew received a message indicating low fuel pressure in the right fuel system, followed by more messages. The crew declared an emergency and reported a generator failure and multiple other failures to Houston air traffic controllers.

The jet was cleared to divert to Laredo International Airport, but both engines flamed out during the final approach. Video footage showed two instances of fire flaring up around the airplane as it touched down on the highway, about 1 mile southeast of the airport.

The jet sheared off several light poles, struck a vehicle, and ended up straddling the edge of an overpass. Five people escaped, and a firefighter entered the smoke-filled jet to extract one person still inside.

Investigation

The NTSB report also noted that the jet’s right engine starter generator was missing multiple screws from the outer housing. Former NTSB investigator Alan Diehl said the missing screws likely caused the fuel lines to initiate a series of cascading events leading to the emergency loss of power.

Former Federal Aviation Administration and NTSB investigator Jeff Guzzetti stated that signs point to an airworthiness issue, possibly related to maintenance procedures.

Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.