- Previous hard landing incident in June 2024 caused tire bursts
- Maintenance flagged abnormal grease levels before fatal crash
- NTSB identifies recurring bolt failures in similar accidents
- 78-year-old pilot died in Arizona runway collision
Arizona aviation authorities are scrutinizing systemic maintenance failures after a Learjet owned by Mötley Crüe’s Vince Neil crashed near Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. The National Transportation Safety Board’s preliminary report highlights disturbing parallels between this accident and three previous landing gear malfunctions nationwide.
The ill-fated aircraft had sustained structural damage during a June 2024 Oklahoma landing where both left tires ruptured. While mechanics performed mandatory hard landing inspections, subsequent maintenance records reveal technicians used 38% more grease than manufacturer specifications on the left gear assembly – a deviation one aviation expert called highly irregular.
Industry analysts note that 62% of corporate jet incidents between 2020-2023 involved improper post-repair testing. Ground crews often overlook load-bearing components when rushing to return VIP aircraft to service,explained FAA-certified inspector Mara Jensen. This crash underscores why we need standardized verification protocols across private aviation.
Regional safety patterns show southwestern states account for 41% of all landing gear-related incidents since 2021, with Arizona’s extreme heat potentially accelerating lubricant breakdown. The NTSB’s ongoing probe examines whether temperature fluctuations compromised the suspect bolt’s structural integrity during the jet’s final descent.
Aviation safety advocates are pushing for mandatory torque sensor installations on all legacy private jets by 2026. As retired pilot Joanne Vitosky’s family mourns her loss, industry leaders face mounting pressure to address maintenance blind spots that continue plaguing small aircraft operations nationwide.
