PHOENIX — Preliminary findings from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) suggest that prior damage to the landing gear of a private jet, previously owned by a prominent musician, may have played a role in a tragic crash earlier this month. The accident occurred in Arizona, resulting in the loss of one life.
In June 2024, the same flight crew experienced a serious landing incident with the Learjet in Oklahoma, where it made a hard landing that damaged both left main landing gear tires. Following this, the pilot sought the expertise of a mechanic for a detailed inspection, which led to the removal of both main landing gear components.
Later inspections raised concerns; a subsequent mechanic reported that the left landing gear required an “excessive” amount of grease, although nothing appeared overtly concerning at that time. Alarmingly, the flight crew did not communicate any potential issues related to the landing gear during their operations.
Erwin Winkler, a chief flight instructor and maintenance director, indicated that the excessive grease raises significant red flags regarding aircraft maintenance protocols. The NTSB noted that the landing gear had previously disconnected from the airframe in other incidents due to improper engagement of a specific bolt.
Winkler highlighted the potential oversight where the pin, crucial for grease flow, may not have been correctly installed. This oversight could have been a contributing factor to the crash, which claimed the life of 78-year-old Joie Vitosky, one of the pilots onboard.
