Citation down in Maine

[GravityHater]

http://www.wmtw.com/news/15200728/detail.html

Didn't see it posted already, delete/ignore as desired.

 

[navigator72]

It happened Friday night in a very bad ice storm.
She supposedly didn't de-ice and ran the plane into a ditch off the taxiway, used her jets to get herself out. Didn't use runway lights for takeoff.
God bless her and her son who both perished in the crash.

 

[goodgig]

If true, wow.

Wonder what would drive anyone to operate like that.

 

[navigator72]

It's a sad story. Obviously nobody knows what was going on but I do know the weather on Friday was horrible. http://wgme.com/News/story_detail/story_detail_6.shtml?readmore

The media isn't known for accurate reporting but I figure that since they are all reporting the same info, there must be something to it.

Here's another link to a news story.

 

[navigator72]

Here is the preliminary:


NTSB Identification: MIA08MA051
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Friday, February 01, 2008 in West Gardiner, ME
Aircraft: Cessna Citation 525, registration: N102PT
Injuries: 2 Fatal.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.
On February 01, 2008, about 1748 eastern standard time, a Cessna Citation 525, N102PT, crashed in a wooded area in West Gardiner, Maine. The private/instrument-rated pilot and one passenger received fatal injuries; the airplane was destroyed. The flight was operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for a flight from Augusta, Maine to Lincoln, Nebraska. The flight had originated from the Augusta State Airport, about 1745.

Representatives of the fixed base operator (FBO) at Augusta State Airport stated that the airplane was fueled and moved from the ramp into the FBO's hangar earlier that morning at the pilot's request. However, the hanger is utilized by a part 121 operator that provides service for that area. The operator canceled its 1630 flight due to the weather condition. The Citation was taken out of the hangar moved back to the ramp area at about that time. The pilot was informed of this possibility at time of the request and understand the other customer had priority over the hangar space.

A person identifying herself as the pilot of N102PT called flight service at about 1701 to file an instrument flight plan from Augusta, Maine to Lincoln, Nebraska, The pilot received a standard weather briefing for the flight at that time. Witnesses stated that the pilot arrived at the airport at about 1715, at which time she and the passenger loaded their personnel effects into the airplane, returned a rental car, and paid for the fuel. She and the passenger then boarded the airplane. Shortly after, about 1730, the airplane's engines were started and soon after the airplane was observed taxing. The FBO representative heard the pilot's announcements over the radio in the FBO. He also noticed the airplane was not on the taxiway but rather on the grass area on the south side of the asphalt taxiway. At that time the ground was covered with snow and ice. For the past hour and half the weather condition had turned from light snow to freezing rain and ice was observed covering the cars in the parking lot. The FBO representative noted the pilot did not turn on the airports taxi and runways light via the common airport frequency radio channel. It was observed that the airplane traveled through a ditch, which was cover with ice and snow. At about that time the airplane's engines were heard at a high rate of power. It was later discovered that the airplane's left main tire broke through the ice and become stuck in the ditch. The airplane continued on the grass area after the high engine power was heard. The FBO representative heard the pilot announced the wrong runway (runway 35) which they were planning to depart from. The FBO representative turned on the runway and taxi lights after hearing the incorrect runway announcement. The pilot later announced a change of departing from runway 35 to runway 17, while the airplane was observed back taxing on runway 26 onto taxiway "C" Charlie. At about 1745 the announcement for departure from runway 17 was heard; the FBO representative observed the departure at that time.

After takeoff the pilot contacted Air Traffic Controller (ATC) and reported that they were at 1,000 feet for 10,000. ATC requested to the pilot to squawk ident on the transponder. Radar contact was made with the airplane when it was about 2 mile southwest of the Augusta State Airport. About one minute later, the pilot declared an emergency and stated "We've got an attitude indicator failure". About seven seconds later. The pilot announced over the frequency they were not certain which way they were turning. Radar contact was last shortly after that.

At about 1749, local authorities received several 911 calls from residents reporting of a possible airplane crash. A short time later the airplane wreckage was located about 6 miles south-southwest of the Augusta State Airport. One witness stated to local law enforcement authorities he saw an airplane fly overhead at a low altitude and moments later observed a large explosion off in the distance.



God Bless

 

[Coool Hand Luke]

I'd guess that probably one of the toughest FAR part 142 instructing jobs would have to be those guys teaching Private Pilot-ME-Instrument students in CE-525's, and soon all the VLJ's. Any of you out that that would care to share your experience? I'd be interested in hearing what y'all have to day. This was sad, even more so as it will surely not be the last.