This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.
- History of Flight:
On October 16, 2025, at about 1727 local time, a Mexican-registered Hawker 800XP jet, XA-JMR, registered to Aereo Lineas del Centro SA, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Bath Michigan. There are three reported fatalities at this point. The flight originated from the Kalamazoo Battle Creek International Airport (AZO/KAZO), Battle Creek, Michigan, at about 1708, and was destined to an unknown location. The purpose of the flight is unknown at the time of this writing.
The aircraft had not flown since last March.
(2) METARs:
According to preliminary Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast (ADS-B) data (figure 1), the airplane departed runway 23R at KBTL and entered a climbing left turn to an inflight cruising altitude of 14,750 ft. The airplane proceeded north with an average groundspeed between 240-270 knots and the flight appeared uneventful. At about 1724, the airplane entered a steady path on a magnetic 1° heading east of Lansing, Michigan, around the same time, the groundspeed values began to drop. At 1725:57, the airplane was at 14750 ft and 163 knots GS. Starting from this point, there were little altitude fluctuations noted while the groundspeed values continued to drop. At 1726:45, the airplane was at 14725 ft and 118 knots GS. At 1726:57, the airplane was at 14700 ft and 105 knots GS, with an average rate of 60 feet per minute (fpm), the next second, at 1726:58, the airplane was at 1726:58, the airplane began a 640 fpm climb. At 17:26:59, the airplane was at 14750 ft, 103 knots groundspeed, with an average rate of -6000 fpm, the next few seconds showed altitude and average rates fluctuations while the groundspeed stayed at 103 knots. At 1727:05, the airplane was seen in a -14000 feet per minute left hand descent. The airplane continued the descent, with extreme changes noted in the vertical speed. At about 1727:34, the airplane was now heading west at an altitude of 8,500 ft and a reported groundspeed of 74 knots and -18000 fpm rate, before it entered a second stall. At 1727:51, the airplane was observed heading east at an altitude of 4825 ft, 75 knots groundspeed, and -13300 fpm. At about 1727:57, the airplane was at 3525 ft, 89 knots GS, and -8700 fpm before it entered a final descending left hand spiral. The last ADS-B return was recorded at 1728:09, the airplane was at 1450 ft, 73 knots GS, with a reported vertical rate of -11000 feet per minute (check "additional information" section for additional figures).
Figure 1: ADS-B exchange track
Figure 2: End of track
- Pilot Information:
unknown
unknown
- Airplane Information:
The accident airplane, serial number 258530, was manufactured at an unknown date. The (mostly) 10 seat low-wing, retractable gear jet was powered by Honeywell TFE731-5BR engines.
The accident airplane, serial number 258530, was manufactured at an unknown date. The (mostly) 10 seat low-wing, retractable gear jet was powered by Honeywell TFE731-5BR engines.
According to the maintenance manual, a stick shaker/stall warning test is conducted in Hawker jets when the wing leading edges are removed for maintenance. According to the airframe manufacturer’s requirements, the required altitude was above 10,000 ft above ground level, 10,000 ft above clouds and below 18,000 ft mean sea level. In addition, this check flight could only be conducted during day visual meteorological conditions with a good visual horizon, with the autopilot disengaged, an operative stall identification system, the external surfaces free of ice, the ventral tank empty and weather radar on standby.
According to the flight manual, the stall speed is about 92 kn (106 mph, 170 km/h) in landing configuration at typical landing weight.
- Wreckage and Impact Information:
No close-ups are available at the time of this writing.
No close-ups are available at the time of this writing.
- Weather:
(1) Brief:
(1) Brief:
A postaccident review of available meteorological data established that, at 1657, about 30 minutes before the accident, the KLAN automated surface observing system reported winds from 0 wind, 10 mile surface visibility, no cloud under 12,00 ft (CLR), temperature 17.2°C, dew point 2.8°C, and an altimeter setting of 30.16 inches of mercury.
(2) METARs:
nearby
METAR KLAN 162053Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 17/03 A3016 RMK AO2 SLP217 T01720028 56022 $
METAR KLAN 162153Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 17/03 A3015 RMK AO2 SLP211 T01670028 $
departure airport
METAR KAZO 162053Z VRB04KT 10SM CLR 18/05 A3016 RMK AO2 SLP215 T01780050 58019
METAR KAZO 162153Z 19004KT 10SM CLR 17/05 A3014 RMK AO2 SLP208 T01720050
(3) Area Forecast Discussion:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Grand Rapids MI 343 PM EDT Thu Oct 16 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... - Light rain tonight and tomorrow - Wet and windy weather ahead - More unsettled weather next week && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 330 PM EDT Thu Oct 16 2025 - Light rain tonight and tomorrow An upper level ridge will continue to build and move over the Great Lakes region through tomorrow. However, mid level moisture stemming from an infiltrating low will bring a short save trough, through the mid and lower levels. This will bring enough instability that should allow for isolate showers along and north or the I 96 corridor. Warm air advection will continue out ahead of the approaching low. This will keep temperatures in the upper 60s to low 70s. That is around 10 degrees above normal. There should be a break in precipitation Friday afternoon. However that break in rain will be short lived. - Wet and windy weather ahead The trend is your friend and this case is not the exception to the rule. Latest models continue to show a cold front approaching from the west, moving slowly to the east. As it moves across the Great Lakes it will drape across Michigan from the northeast to the southwest beginning early Saturday morning. CAPE values remain fairly low, but can`t rule out thunder along the leading edge of the frontal boundary Saturday. The biggest area of moisture has shifted to the east and south. The front should stall as the ridge slowly shift eastward which will allow periods of showers Saturday. The heaviest rain showers will move through the area Saturday night into Sunday, especially through southern lower Michigan. The low continues to track through the state, bringing wet and windy weather through Sunday. Two day totals have QPF upwards of 1 to 2 inches, however that is over a 48 hour period. Heaviest rain is most likely mainly along the lake shore and along a swath along the I 69 corridor. While the moisture, temperature boundaries will allow for gusty winds through this period. Saturday should have gusty upwards of 30 mph. Sunday should have a stronger gradient with wind gusts upwards of 40 mph possible Sunday and Monday afternoon. - More unsettled weather next week With the large upper level low moving slowly along the Upper Great Lakes region, short waves and cold northwesterly flow should bring periods of showers through the area through mid next week. This will bring temperatures back to around normal, though lows should remain above freezing. && .AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z FRIDAY/... Issued at 145 PM EDT Thu Oct 16 2025 VFR is likely to continue into Friday morning. Light east winds will become light from the southeast tonight, then a little breezier with a few gusts over 16 knots from the south later Friday morning. Clouds and some ceiling layers between 7,000 and 12,000 feet will stream in tonight... more so in the north. There is about a 30 percent chance of light rain showers from 05 to 14 Z at MKG, GRR, and LAN, though visibility is unlikely to be affected.
- Additional Information:
Figure 3: Vertical Rate profile towards the end of track (Flysto)
Figure 4: Groundspeed (GS) profile towards the end of track (Flysto)
