On Thursday, a tragic accident occurred in Lansing, Michigan, when a Hawker 800XP business jet crashed during a test flight. All three individuals on board were killed in the incident.
Incident Overview
Audio recordings from air traffic control revealed the pilots struggled to maintain control of the aircraft. Moments before the crash, one pilot transmitted, “Stall recovery, stall recovery.” Despite multiple attempts by the Cleveland Air Route Traffic Control Center to reach the pilots, they received no response.
Crash Details
Witnesses reported seeing the jet corkscrewing to the ground before it vanished behind residential homes. Shortly thereafter, a large plume of smoke emerged from the crash site. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has initiated an investigation into the crash.
Flight Information
The Hawker 800XP, registered as XA-JMR, departed from Battle Creek Executive Airport around 5:08 PM local time. It climbed to an altitude of 15,000 feet before experiencing a sudden increase in its rate of descent, reaching alarming speeds of up to 24,000 feet per minute. The descent lasted approximately one minute before the aircraft crashed into the woods.
Maintenance and Background
This test flight followed scheduled maintenance performed by Duncan Aviation. The two pilots were associated with the jet’s owner, along with a maintenance representative who also lost their life in the crash. Duncan Aviation President Mike Minchow expressed condolences and emphasized the company’s focus on supporting the families and team members affected by this tragedy.
Historical Context
The recent crash mirrors a similar incident from February 2024. In that case, two pilots died during an after-maintenance flight while testing systems designed to prevent aerodynamic stalls. Although the NTSB has released a preliminary report on that event, a final report and probable cause remain pending.
Key Facts
- Location: Lansing, Michigan
- Aircraft: Hawker 800XP (Mexican-registered, XA-JMR)
- Date of crash: Recent Thursday
- Fatalities: 3 on board
- Origins: Departed from Battle Creek Executive Airport
- Flight Time: 5:08 PM local time; descended rapidly within 20 minutes
- Maintenance: Conducted by Duncan Aviation
- Previous Incident: February 2024, similar crash involving a business jet
The NTSB’s ongoing investigation aims to determine the cause of both this and the previous incident, highlighting the importance of safety in aviation maintenance and testing protocols.
