NTSB Issues Urgent Safety Recommendations After Fatal Hawker Stall Test Accidents

Report cites deficiencies in pilot training and post-maintenance procedures for the jets.

Meg Godlewski

Thursday, January 08, 2026 at 09:00 AM ET

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Edited By:

Zach Vasile

A 2008 Hawker 900XP [Credit: FLYING Archive]

Key Takeaways:

The NTSB issued urgent safety recommendations for Hawker 800 and 900XP jets following fatal accidents during manufacturer-required post-maintenance stall test flights.
Investigations revealed critical deficiencies in the information, training, and procedures provided to pilots for safely conducting these tests, leading to unprepared crews encountering "unacceptable stall characteristics."
Recommendations include defining pilot qualification criteria, developing comprehensive stall test plans, revising aircraft manuals to detail adverse stall behaviors, and increasing awareness among operators and pilots about the elevated risks of these flights.

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Fatal accidents involving Hawker 800 and 900XP jets have prompted the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to issue emergency recommendations for post-maintenance stall tests.

According to the 20-page report, the agency found deficiencies in the information provided to aircraft owners, operators, and pilots relating to training and procedures required to safely conduct post-maintenance stall test flights of Hawker aircraft, including the 700, 800, 800XP, 850XP, and 900XP.