Accidents
Hawker Post-mx Test Flight Crash Latest in Troubling Trend
Flight crew opted to perform required post-maintenance test without test pilot
screenshot from report
© NTSB

A Raytheon Hawker 800XP that crashed on October 16 is at least the fourth reported accident or incident in the U.S. involving required post-maintenance stall testing in a Hawker business jet, according to the NTSB preliminary report. The aircraft was destroyed and both pilots and the passenger were killed in the accident.

Accident investigators found that the crew had opted to perform the stall tests without using a test pilot after the twinjet had undergone months of routine maintenance at Duncan Aviation’s Battle Creek, Michigan facility. The Mexican-registered aircraft, XA-JMR, operated by Aerolíneas del Centro, departed Battle Creek Executive Airport (KBTL) at 17:08 local time for a local flight required by maintenance updates.