Thu., October 11, 2012 1:14pm (EDT)

Report: Gulfstream Ignored Warnings
By Associated Press
Updated: 8 months ago

SAVANNAH, Ga.  —  
Safety experts testified Wednesday during a National Transportation Safety Board hearing that performance issues in two earlier test flights weren't properly evaluated. (photo Gulfstream)
Safety experts testified Wednesday during a National Transportation Safety Board hearing that performance issues in two earlier test flights weren't properly evaluated. (photo Gulfstream)
Federal aviation officials say warning signs from previous test flights went unheeded before the fiery crash of a business jet being tested in New Mexico, killing four employees of Georgia-based Gulfstream Aerospace Corp.

The Gulfstream GVI (G650) jet was taking off with a simulated engine failure when it crashed April 2, 2011, in Roswell, N.M.

Safety experts testified Wednesday during a National Transportation Safety Board hearing that performance issues in two earlier test flights weren't properly evaluated.

NTSB Chairwoman Deborah Hersman said there was pressure to get the jet certified, but instead of slowing the process to analyze the its performance, the testing program "continued full-speed ahead."

Gulfstream identified the four Savannah employees killed as test pilots Kent Crenshaw and Vivan Ragusa; and technical specialists David McCollum and Reece Ollenburg.