"The cause of the uncontrolled flight and crash after the Learjet 35 apparently ran out of fuel were not known, but aviation experts speculated that the aircraft may have lost pressurization and that emergency backup systems failed as the plane's autopilot kept it in the air. Loss of pressurization above 30,000 feet would cause occupants of the aircraft to lose consciousness from oxygen deficiency in one to two minutes, the experts said."
Seems like the plane did have some sort of emergency backup. And, that the occupants would have had 60 to 120 seconds before loss of consciousness from lack of O2. Question is, was it the deployement of their O2 masks that failed?
The Learjet 35 is a pressurized aircraft that also is equipped with individual emergency oxygen masks for the passengers and crew if the pressurization system fails above about 12,000 feet.Tom Baum, a Learjet pilot instructor, told CNN that a panel light in the cockpit of the plane goes on if there is a problem with the pressurization and that a backup system should then automatically begin to function. He said Learjet pilots are required to wear oxygen masks around their necks.
Permit me to offer an edit to my post.
Payne Stewart’s aircraft lacked the safeguards that a 777 has.
;-)