Shredded Tires, Debris Likely Caused Travis Barker's Plane Crash

By Stephen M. Silverman

UpdatePosted Wednesday October 22, 2008 04:05 PM EDT

Originally posted Wednesday October 22, 2008 02:10 PM EDT

DJ AM (left) and Travis Barker Photo by: Michael Bezjian / WireImage

Federal aviation officials looking into last month's crash that killed four people and critically injured Travis Barker and DJ AM are focusing on bare tires and debris on the runway as the causes of the fate of the doomed Learjet and those onboard.

The National Transportation Safety Board said Wednesday that the aircraft's wheels had very little rubber remaining and its brakes were severely damaged. The plane crashed upon an aborted takeoff around midnight Sept. 19.

"Oftentimes, we find that as we collect more information, the picture changes," said NTSB Public Affairs Officer Peter Knudson, who said the physical evidence of the crash – such as skid marks and the condition of the brakes – is being analyzed.

The cockpit voice recorder indicated that crewmembers expressed their belief that a tire blew as the jet was on the runway.

Having both suffered severe burns in the crash, Barker, 32, and DJ AM (real name: Adam Goldstein), 35, are now expected to recover fully.

The wreckage of the Learjet carrying Travis Barker, Adam Goldstein and four others Photo by: Brett Flashnick / AP