Investigators have recovered a significant piece of evidence in the fatal Learjet 60 crash that killed nine people near Greenacres in Palm Beach County, Florida, on November 1.

During a November 3 briefing, NTSB member Thomas Chapman said most of the aircraft’s left elevator had been found in three pieces, between 1.3 and 3.8 miles from the main impact site. The discovery confirms that an important flight-control component separated before the aircraft struck the ground.

The elevator helps control the aircraft’s nose-up and nose-down movement. However, investigators have not established whether its separation initiated the loss of control or resulted from forces acting on the aircraft during the accident sequence. That distinction remains central to understanding what happened.

The flight had departed Austin, Texas, for North Eleuthera in the Bahamas. In its November 5 update, the NTSB said excavation crews had recovered part of an engine, with additional debris found on nearby rooftops. Recovered wreckage will be moved to a secure location for examination.

The findings remain preliminary. While the recovered elevator provides a valuable clue, the cause of the crash has not been determined.