Preliminary report released on Hawker maintenance test crash in Michigan

The NTSB has released a preliminary report on the Hawker 800XP (Mexican registration XA-JMR) crash that happened in Michigan on Oct. 16. The aircraft had been at Duncan Aviation's maintenance facility at the Battle Creek Executive Airport (BTL) since March 2025 and the flight was its first since then. Duncan Aviation maintenance personnel told the NTSB that multiple routine inspections were completed during that time, including the removal of the wing leading edges and TKS ice protection panels for a visual inspection. The Hawker departed from BTL and entered a left climbing turn and flew about 9 miles northeast. After receiving a block altitude from FL140 to FL160, the aircraft entered a rapid descent and sent an indiscernible transmission. ATC replied and received a response of "we are in a..." followed by a transmission in Spanish that translated to "in a stall, recovering, sorry." There are no transmissions after. RELATED STORIES: Hawker 800XP crashes during maintenance test flight in Michigan Preliminary report released on crash that killed songwriter Brett James Preliminary report on Arizona medical crash includes witness testimony The aircraft crashed in a wooded area at a relatively flat attitude. A post-impact fire consumed a majority of the wreckage. The two pilots and a maintenance representative were the only occupants of the aircraft. All three died in the crash. Duncan Aviation personnel reported that a list of test pilots was provided to perform the post-maintenance stall test flight, but the crew was unable to coordinate with a test pilot and decided to perform the post-maintenance stall test themselves.The NTSB has investigated at least three other accidents/incidents involving the performance of required stall tests after maintenance in business jets.