NTSB issues recommendations for training and stall tests on Hawker aircraft

The NTSB has issued safety recommendations to urge the FAA, NBAA and Textron Aviation to establish pilot training and experience criteria and post-maintenance stall test plans for certain Hawker aircraft. These recommendations follow 2 separate crashes that occurred during required post-maintenance stall test flights in Hawker 800XP and 900XP aircraft. One occurred on Feb. 7, 2024 and killed both the pilot and copilot. The second occurred on Oct. 16, 2025 and killed two pilots and a maintenance representative. The NTSB states that while the pilots of these flights were qualified, they were unprepared to safely address the adverse stall behavior they encountered during the stall test flights. It claims that there is an insufficient amount of information available to owners, operators and pilots on training and procedures. Textron was advised to define the necessary pilot training and experience qualification criteria for pilots who perform post-maintenance stall test flights in Hawker 700, 800, 800XP, 850XP and 900XP aircraft and create a stall test plan that describes how to safely perform the test flights in the listed aircraft. All other aircraft listed on type certificate A3EU are advised to be reviewed and given a flight test plan. The NTSB also recommended that the company review and revise its Pilot's Operating Manual and Airplane Flight Manual and inform owners and operators of the circumstances of these crashes. RELATED STORIES: Final report released on Hawker 900XP crash in Utah Preliminary report released on Hawker maintenance test crash in Michigan 20-year-old pilot wins $2.4M Hawker 400XP in MrBeast challenge The NSTB recommended that the FAA require these actions from Textron and incorporate them into its approved manuals. It also recommends that the NBAA inform its members about the recent accidents that occurred during stall flight tests on specific Hawker aircraft.