2 years after I-75 Naples plane crash, NTSB final report still pending, what initial review revealed

NAPLES, Fla. (WINK) - Exactly two years after the dual-engine failure that sent a private jet crashing onto Interstate 75, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has not released its final report but is preparing to soon.

The NTSB’s preliminary findings have revealed a terrifying sequence of events: a rare dual engine flameout occurring just about 1,700 feet above the ground.

The Final Seconds: "We Are Not Going to Make the Runway"

On February 9, 2024, at 3:10 PM, the flight crew of N823KD made a haunting transmission to the Naples Airport control tower.

"We are cleared to land but we are not going to make the runway," the pilots reported. "We have lost both engines."

Seconds later, dashcam footage captured the harrowing sight of the Bombardier Challenger 600 series aircraft descending onto the interstate, just miles short of its destination.

While the crash claimed the lives of Captain Edward Murphy and Second-in-Command Ian Hofmann, their decision to steer the plane toward the highway—avoiding a nearby residential development—is being hailed as a feat of heroic airmanship.

Dr. Robert Jocelyn, an associate professor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and former FAA test pilot, says the timing of the failure is the most baffling element.

"The probability of that happening is very low," Jocelyn said. "So whatever happened, obviously was catastrophic in nature, was relatively, 'sudden.'"

While the pilots remained calm on the recordings, the altitude—just 1,700 feet—meant they were essentially flying a multi-ton glider.

"That obviously restricts the opportunity to even attempt a restart," Jocelyn noted.

The Investigation: A Case of "Identical Twins"

The NTSB’s two-year investigation has meticulously dissected the aircraft's engines. Investigators discovered that master warnings for low oil pressure in both the left and right engines triggered almost simultaneously.

Jeff Hansen, a retired FedEx pilot based in Cape Coral, says the odds of such a failure are nearly impossible to calculate.

"A dual engine failure... that is like lottery ticket time," Hansen said. "It is astronomically rare."

The investigation has centered on:

• Internal Corrosion: Evidence of corrosion within the engines likely caused "compressor stalls."
• Sticking Components: Internal valves were not opening as required, leading to engine backfires and subsequent flameouts.
• Identical Wear: Because the engines were "twins"—installed at the same time and maintained on the same schedule—they suffered from the same degradation simultaneously.

"The engines had never been removed from the airplane... they didn't have more time than the other," Hansen explained. "That adds to the reason why they both failed at the same exact time."

Industry Impact and Changes

In response to the tragedy, General Electric, the engine manufacturer, has issued new service bulletins. These updates move engine washing and specific inspection procedures higher up the priority list for maintenance crews worldwide.

In a statement to WINK News, GE expressed deep sympathy for the families involved, noting that their technical teams continue to support the NTSB's ongoing investigation.

Barry Ellis, CEO of Hop-A-Jet, maintains that while the tragedy was a result of a deep-seated mechanical failure rather than pilot error or improper maintenance by his team, the company has still evolved.

"We've strengthened what we believe were already very strong safety systems," Ellis said. "We do some deeper-based scenario training, tighter cross-checks, and enhanced readiness for extremely rare events."

Looking Forward

While the NTSB has not officially confirmed a release date, Hop-A-Jet officials expect the final report to be made public by next month. It is expected to provide the definitive word on the mechanical triggers that led to one of Southwest Florida's most public aviation disasters.

"We’re very confident that the final report will back up the fact that it was a mechanical failure,” Ellis said. 

For the families of the fallen pilots, the report represents the final chapter in a long search for closure.

WINK News reached out to the family of both pilots for comment but did not hear back.