Investigation Summary
Flight 056 departed runway 24 at 18:06 local time under overcast and foggy conditions with light rain. According to preliminary radar data, the aircraft climbed to approximately 1,650 feet before entering a rapid descent. The last received telemetry from Flightradar24 reported the aircraft at an altitude of 1,275 feet with an increasing speed of 242 knots. The flight lasted only 22 to 40 seconds before impacting the sidewalk and buildings on Cottman Avenue at a descent rate of approximately 11,000 feet per minute. The NTSB recovered the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) from a depth of 8 feet at the initial impact site, but subsequent laboratory analysis revealed the device had been inoperative for several years and contained no data from the accident flight. Investigators also recovered the Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System (EGPWS) and both engines for detailed examination. The crash resulted in significant ground casualties, including one fatality inside a vehicle at the scene and another who died months later from severe burn injuries.
Final Conclusions
The investigation is ongoing. The NTSB released a preliminary report on March 6, 2025, confirming the recovery of key components and the failure of the CVR to record the flight. A final report determining the probable cause is expected within 12 to 24 months of the accident.
Photographic Evidence (1)
Video Analysis
No video analysis linked for this case file yet.
Airframe & Maintenance
Crew Experience
Captain
Identified as Alan Alejandro Montoya Perales. While NTSB/Wikipedia cite 9,200 hours, some local reports cite 8,700 hours.
Co-pilot
Identified as Josue de Jesus Juarez Juarez.
Systems & Failure Modes
Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR)
A flight recorder used to record the audio environment in the flight deck. In this accident, the NTSB found the unit was inoperative and failed to record any data.
Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System (EGPWS)
A system designed to alert pilots of imminent contact with the ground. The unit was recovered and sent to a lab to determine if it contains stored flight path data.
Interesting Facts
- 01The aircraft was a 1982-built Learjet 55 registered in Mexico.
- 02All six occupants on the aircraft were Mexican nationals.
- 03The Cockpit Voice Recorder had likely been inoperative for several years prior to the accident.
- 04The crash caused damage to over 350 properties and injured 24 people on the ground.
- 05A wind gust of 30 mph was recorded near the airport shortly before the accident.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Airport Ground Stop
Source ↗Following the accident, the FAA ordered an immediate ground stop at Northeast Philadelphia Airport (PNE) to facilitate emergency operations and ensure safety during the initial response.
Emergency Response and Road Closures
Source ↗The Philadelphia Police Department and Office of Emergency Management initiated a citywide emergency response, closing roads near the Roosevelt Mall area to contain secondary fires and secure the debris field.