NTSB Releases Docket Info on Philadelphia Learjet Medevac Accident | Aviation International News

NTSB Releases Docket Info on Philly Learjet Accident

Investigators focus on somatogravic illusion and pitch-trim setting

Learjet accident Philadelphia — © NTSB

By Matt Thurber • Editor-in-Chief

August 19, 2026

The NTSB has opened the docket on the crash of a medevac Learjet 55 on Jan. 31, 2025, in Philadelphia. Eight people died as a result of the accident, including six on board the airplane and two people on the ground (one died in April 2025 as a result of injuries suffered in the accident).

The Learjet took off from Northeast Philadelphia Airport (KPNE) at 18:06 local time, heading to Missouri’s Springfield-Branson National Airport (KSGF). After takeoff, the Learjet climbed into an overcast layer of clouds at 400 feet agl, according to the NTSB, at 2,300 fpm and 191 knots calibrated airspeed. The rate of climb decreased, and it began to descend from 1,650 feet msl at 18:06:56. The last ADS-B data point was recorded at 18:07:03, and at that point the Learjet was descending at 10,000 fpm, with the calibrated airspeed continuing to increase, “reaching 300 knots at the end of the ADS-B data,” the NTSB reported.

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