Blair T :
So Icing and moderate turbulence lead to a phenomenon called Mach tuck. It is common in Learjet 60’s and older Learjet’s. Essentially, you exceed the maximum airspeed at altitude and it is unrecoverable to the point that you continue to speed up while not being able to produce lift with your wings. Further description: (your coefficient of lift eventually moves too far behind the wing making it impossible to produce lift, this causes the aircraft to lose altitude like a falling dart, in turn gaining airspeed and crashing. All Pilots are aware of this, some just push too close to the maximum speed threshold, and when you experience clear air turbulence or other factors like icing that would push you too far past the maximum speed threshold without the capability to control the wing normally, this happens. So wrapping up, icing changes the shape of the wing critically and adds weight to the plane it’s a double whammy, but mainly airflow issue over the wing, Learjets are vulnerable to over speed situations because of the type of wing is small, sleek, and very unforgiving all in the name of efficiency and high performance, mix all of that together with moderate turbulence which can fluctuate your airspeed, this causes the aircraft to enter Mach tuck over speed condition the over speed condition took off the horizontal stabilizer and their fate was sealed the moment that stabilizer came off and it’s very known to do that In a lear in overspeed conditions. There is absolutely no way to maintain the aircrafts pitch with that vital piece missing, And so the result is…..well essentially a lawn dart scenario that you see here. It’s Very sad.
2026-11-02 14:01:24