Feds: Learjet Should Change Design After SC Crash

Federal regulators say changes should be made to the type of plane that ran off the end of a South Carolina runway last fall, killing four and injuring celebrity DJ AM and former Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker.

AP
Published: July 17, 2009

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COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - Federal regulators say changes should be made to the type of plane that ran off the end of a South Carolina runway last fall, killing four and injuring celebrity DJ AM and former Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker.

The National Transportation Safety Board said Friday that Learjet should change the design of the thrusting system on its Learjet 60. Thrust reversers are often used to help slow down just after touchdown.

NTSB has said the plane was traveling 156 mph just before its pilots tried to abort the takeoff around midnight Sept. 19. Officials said there was very little rubber left on the jet’s wheels, and the brakes were severely damaged.

Barker and DJ AM were severely burned. Two friends and the pilots were killed.