A 20-year-old pilot, Nathalia Filgueiras, who died Sunday in a Learjet crash in Florida, was remembered by her former instructor as an exceptionally gifted aviator who "aced" her flight exams.
Filgueiras was co-piloting a Learjet 60 with Jeff Gregory, 55, when the aircraft reportedly lost control and descended tens of thousands of feet per minute before crashing near West Palm Beach. The jet exploded into a fireball, killing all nine people on board and leaving a significant debris field.
Federal authorities are investigating the cause of the crash. Officials with the National Transportation Safety Board indicated that severe weather may have been a significant factor, noting that a portion of the jet appeared to have broken off before impact.
Chris Kirk, Filgueiras' flight instructor for four decades, shared his memories of her on Facebook, calling her "without a doubt the most naturally gifted pilot I have ever taught." He noted that she achieved her Pilot-in-Command type rating for the Learjet with less than 1,100 flight hours, impressing the examiner who estimated her experience at 5,000 hours.
Kirk emphasized Filgueiras' passion for flying, distinguishing her from students who pursued aviation solely for career prospects. "Nathalia was PASSIONATE about flying!!! She was a 100 percent natural born pilot!!!" he wrote.
Harrowing cockpit audio revealed Filgueiras reporting turbulence and ice before declaring an emergency due to an overspeed condition and rapid descent. Her final transmissions indicated the plane was going to crash.
Among the other victims were tech entrepreneur Adam Robinson, 45, his wife Helen Sharp, 40, their two young children, Emma and Charlie, their nanny Anita Maria Cetina, and a couple, Rachael Reed and Charmi Fehr. The group was reportedly traveling to the Bahamas for Robinson's birthday.
Statements from the families of the victims described Robinson and Sharp as devoted parents, and their children as the light of their lives. Reed and Fehr were remembered for their joy and adventurous spirits, while Cetina was celebrated for her devoted care of the children.
Robinson was the founder of the tech company Retention, and Sharp managed a communications firm and owned a pottery studio.