Learjet Crater Leaves Family of Four Dead in Florida Crash

A Learjet 60 punched through the pavement of a Florida roadway on Sunday afternoon, creating a crater that killed every person on board and left a man with a leg injury in a nearby car. The aircraft, owned by Aurora Aviation, descended from an altitude of 35,000 feet at a rate of 350 feet per second before striking the ground nose-first in the Greenacres community of Palm Beach County.

The crash claimed the lives of two crew members and seven passengers. Among the dead were Adam Robinson and Helen Sharp, who were traveling with their two young children, Emma, age 4, and Charlie, age 2, according to Robinson’s brother. The 20-year-old co-pilot was identified as Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras by her stepfather. Authorities have not yet released the official names of all victims, as the medical examiner’s office is currently conducting DNA collection and assessment.

NTSB board member Tom Chapman stated that the aircraft likely began breaking apart before it hit the ground. He noted that debris is scattered across a field roughly half a mile by four-tenths of a mile, covering ball fields, businesses, and houses. Chapman said investigators may find parts of the jet at a distance from the main impact site. The crash occurred just before 1:00 p.m. ET near Military Trail, between Cresthaven Boulevard and 10th Avenue, near a shopping center.

The jet took off from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas around 10:37 a.m. ET, bound for North Eleuthera in the Bahamas. While in contact with the Miami Air Route Traffic Center, the crew reported encountering moderate turbulence and light clear ice. The outside temperature was recorded as minus 53 degrees Fahrenheit. The turbulence caused the aircraft to deviate from its assigned altitude by approximately 700 feet.

Chapman explained that the crew requested permission to climb to 37,000 feet, a request that was approved by air traffic control. Less than 30 seconds after that approval, the aircraft transmitted an overspeed condition message, followed by a Mayday call. Subsequent communications described a rapid descent and provided altitude callouts before contact with air traffic control was lost. Chapman added that weather conditions are a major focus of the investigation, specifically the turbulence and icing the crew reported.

Anthony Robinson, the brother of Adam Robinson, posted an online statement honoring the couple. He described them as a love affair that would last forever and noted their warmth and generosity touched many lives. The loss will be felt deeply by those who knew them, he said. The NTSB said a cockpit voice recorder was installed on the jet, but it remains unclear if the device stayed on board during the final flight.

County officials evacuated hundreds of residents from 77 mobile homes in the area following the impact. NTSB investigator in charge Timothy Monville said the biggest obstacle for the investigation is recovering wreckage from the large crater. Rainwater has seeped into the hole, complicating the work. Investigators will remain at the scene for several days to collect evidence and identify the scattered debris.

The FAA confirmed the jet was a twin-engine Learjet 60 with a history of 22 years in service. Monville stated that investigators have not yet identified specific parts of the aircraft, though debris continues to be found. The timeline of the final minutes remains under review, with the rapid descent occurring shortly after the crew reported manageable turbulence and ice conditions.