There is an irony apparent in the events following the February 2005 Challenger accident at Teterboro. Investigators nearly ignored the primary cause of the crash, as the NTSB focused primarily on 14 CFR Part 135 operational control issues and the lack of FAA oversight as the secondary causes. The industry and the media then homed in on the FAA’s efforts to tighten the reins of operational control for 14 CFR Part 135 operators and the aircraft on their certificates.
The FAA enacted changes to its Operations Specifications A002 and A008 as well as FAA Order 8900.1. It then began evaluating operator compliance with the new measures and in some cases taking certificate action against operators who did not conform. Finally, the FAA pursued legal action against the principal officers of Platinum Jet Management, the company that operated the Challenger, and the two pilots involved in the crash.
