NTSB: NetJets Citation Latitude Crash Shows Right-Engine Damage

Preliminary Report Points to Right-Engine Mechanical Failures

LAREDO, Texas — The National Transportation Safety Board has released a preliminary report on the June 16, 2026, crash of a NetJets-operated Cessna 680A Citation Latitude, identifying significant right-engine damage but stopping short of explaining why both engines lost power on final approach. The business jet, registration N523QS, suffered a dual-engine flameout while descending toward Laredo International Airport (LRD) and came down on Loop 20, striking a vehicle on the highway.

Investigators found the right engine's fuel pressure switch had separated from its fuel tube, which was fractured adjacent to a weld joint; multiple metal clamps securing the tube were also fractured. Separately, the right engine's starter-generator sustained severe damage, including a bent shaft, a fractured cooling fan and several missing screws from the outer casing. The NTSB has not yet established whether those failures caused or resulted from the loss of power, and the agency has not explained why the left engine also lost thrust.

One Killed, Investigation Ongoing

The crash killed one passenger, Capital Factory founder and CEO Joshua Baer. The captain sustained serious injuries; the first officer and three other passengers received minor injuries. One person on the ground was slightly injured in the vehicle strike. Investigators are conducting laboratory analysis of the damaged components and reviewing cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder data to reconstruct the sequence of events. NetJets said it is cooperating fully with the investigation and will not speculate on causation pending the final report, which is expected within 12 to 24 months.