'We're out of time': Audio captures Learjet crew's last words in crash
A Learjet that departed Austin for the Bahamas crashed in South Florida on Nov. 1, killing all nine people aboard, including a 20-year-old co-pilot.
The Learjet 60 was headed to North Eleuthera Airport
in the Bahamas after departing Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. It crashed near Greenacres, Florida, around 11:50 a.m. CT/10:50 p.m. MT on Sunday, USA TODAY reported.
The impact sparked a fire and scattered debris across the area. About 600 people were evacuated, and authorities reported no injuries on the ground.
The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration are investigating the crash. The cause has not been determined.
Who was aboard the plane?
The family of co-pilot Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras identified her as one of the nine people aboard the aircraft.
Filgueiras, 20, grew up in Palm Beach County and earned her private pilot's license at 17 while attending West Boca Raton High School. She later studied at a Florida branch of an aviation academy headquartered in Addison, Texas.
While in high school, she told CBS12 that her dream was to become a commercial airline pilot.
Authorities had not officially confirmed the identities of all nine people aboard as of Monday morning, Nov. 2.
What happened during flight?
The crew was flying at about 35,000 feet when they reported icing conditions and moderate but manageable turbulence to air traffic control.
The first officer later requested a climb to 37,000 feet, citing increased precipitation. About 20 seconds later, the crew issued a mayday call.
Air traffic control recordings captured the crew reporting a rapid descent, initially at 10,000 feet per minute and then at 20,000 feet per minute. Flight-tracking data from Flightradar24 showed the descent rate briefly exceeded 32,000 feet per minute.
The final transmission included the words, "Holy f---! We're out of time!" as she screamed.
What were weather conditions like?
Thunderstorms were reported across the Florida peninsula near Lake Okeechobee on Sunday. Winds in the crash area blew from the east at about 15 mph, with gusts up to 25 mph.
In a Facebook post, meteorologist Matthew Cappucci said the Learjet flew toward a fast-growing thunderstorm. His review of flight data and radar showed the storm's clouds rose 15,000 feet in 20 minutes and reached 48,300 feet by the time of the crash.
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Could icing have contributed to the crash?
One of the most significant details to emerge from the pilot's final communications was the report of icing conditions.
Ice accumulation can affect an aircraft's aerodynamics, changing airflow over the wings and other control surfaces. Depending on where ice accumulates and how much builds up, it can increase drag, reduce lift and affect an aircraft's handling.
But a report of icing does not establish that ice caused the crash.
What happens next in the investigation?
The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation, with assistance from the Federal Aviation Administration.
Investigators are gathering evidence at the crash site. The cause of the crash has not been determined.
Brandi D. Addison covers weather nationwide as the Weather Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network and contributes to Texas Connect coverage statewide. She can be reached at baddison@usatodayco.com. Follow her on Facebook here.