Narrative:
The Cessna 501 jet departed Salt Lake City for a flight to Sun Valley at 13:40. Cruising altitude was FL350 from which the pilot initiated a descent at 13:59.
Because of poor weather at the destination, the pilot was instructed to enter a holding pattern near Oriye at 15,000 feet and prepare for an RNAV approach. The confirmation by the pilot, at 14:09, was the last contact with the flight. All attempts to contact the pilot failed though the plane was still visible on radar. Around 14:25 the airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in muddy and mountainous terrain at an elevation of 5,630 feet.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "Pilot incapacitation for unknown reasons."
Loss of control
accident date: 15-03-2003
type: Cessna 501 Citation I/SP
registration: N70FJ
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Saturday 15 March 2003 |
| Time: | 14:25 MST |
| Type: |  Cessna 501 Citation I/SP |
| Operator: | Dancing Wind Aviation |
| Registration: | N70FJ |
| MSN: | 501-0073 |
| First flight: | 1978 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 7120 |
| Engines: | 2 Williams International FJ44-2A |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 3 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Aircraft fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | 28 km (17.5 mls) ESE of Carey, ID ( United States of America)
|
| Crash site elevation: | 1716 m (5630 feet) amsl |
| Phase: | Approach (APR) |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Salt Lake City International Airport, UT (SLC/KSLC), United States of America |
| Hailey-Friedman Memorial Airport, ID (SUN/KSUN), United States of America |
The Cessna 501 jet departed Salt Lake City for a flight to Sun Valley at 13:40. Cruising altitude was FL350 from which the pilot initiated a descent at 13:59.
Because of poor weather at the destination, the pilot was instructed to enter a holding pattern near Oriye at 15,000 feet and prepare for an RNAV approach. The confirmation by the pilot, at 14:09, was the last contact with the flight. All attempts to contact the pilot failed though the plane was still visible on radar. Around 14:25 the airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in muddy and mountainous terrain at an elevation of 5,630 feet.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "Pilot incapacitation for unknown reasons."
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Classification:
Flightcrew incapacitation Loss of control
Sources:
» NTSBPhotos
accident date: 15-03-2003
type: Cessna 501 Citation I/SP
registration: N70FJ
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Salt Lake City International Airport, UT to Hailey-Friedman Memorial Airport, ID as the crow flies is 355 km (222 miles).
Accident location: Exact; as reported in the official accident report.
Distance from Salt Lake City International Airport, UT to Hailey-Friedman Memorial Airport, ID as the crow flies is 355 km (222 miles).
Accident location: Exact; as reported in the official accident report.
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
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