Expert Opinion
AINsight: Fatal In-flight Upset Poses Important Lessons
Challenger 300/350 pilots should review the airplane's quick reference handbook in light of a recent upset accident in the business jet.

On March 3, 2023, a Bombardier Challenger 300 was involved in an accident en route from Keene, New Hampshire, to Leesburg, Virginia, killing one passenger. Initial media reports suggested that an encounter with severe turbulence was the cause, but this was later ruled out. 

A recently published NTSB preliminary investigative report on the accident identified an in-flight upset caused by a pitch trim malfunction. The report raises many questions about the pitch trim system on this super-midsize business jet and yet more questions about the actions of the flight crew leading up to the in-flight upset event.

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Stuart “Kipp” Lau
Contributor - Safety
About the author

Pilot, safety expert, consultant, and aviation journalist Stuart “Kipp” Lau writes about flight safety and airmanship for AIN.

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