Narrative:
The CitationJet took off from Van Nuys (VNY) runway 34L to pick up two passengers at Long Beach (LGB). Witnesses near the end of the runway said that the front left baggage door was open, and standing straight up. The airplane was about 200 feet agl.
All of the witnesses stated that the airplane turned slightly left, leveled off, and was slow. It began descending, and the wings were slightly rocking. Several of the witnesses felt that the airplane stalled, and made a hard right turn. The wings were nearly vertical to the ground when the airplane hit the ground. The right wing tip hit the street; the left wing hit a light pole, and went through a set of power lines perpendicular to the flight path. The airplane continued through a wire fence with a cinder block wall behind it, and then through another cinderblock wall with a wire fence behind it.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The pilot's failure to maintain an adequate airspeed during the initial climb resulting in an inadvertent stall/spin. Contributing to the accident were the second pilots inadequate preflight, failure to properly secure the front baggage door, and the front left baggage door opening in flight, which likely distracted the first pilot"
Cargo door failure
Loss of control
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Friday 12 January 2007 |
| Time: | 11:07 |
| Type: |  Cessna 525 CitationJet |
| Operator: | SunQuest Executive Air Charter |
| Registration: | N77215 |
| MSN: | 525-0149 |
| First flight: | 1996 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 3001 |
| Engines: | 2 Williams International FJ44-1A |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Aircraft fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | Los Angeles-Van Nuys Airport, CA (VNY) ( United States of America)
|
| Phase: | Initial climb (ICL) |
| Nature: | Ferry/positioning |
| Departure airport: | Los Angeles-Van Nuys Airport, CA (VNY/KVNY), United States of America |
| Long Beach Municipal Airport, CA (LGB/KLGB), United States of America |
The CitationJet took off from Van Nuys (VNY) runway 34L to pick up two passengers at Long Beach (LGB). Witnesses near the end of the runway said that the front left baggage door was open, and standing straight up. The airplane was about 200 feet agl.
All of the witnesses stated that the airplane turned slightly left, leveled off, and was slow. It began descending, and the wings were slightly rocking. Several of the witnesses felt that the airplane stalled, and made a hard right turn. The wings were nearly vertical to the ground when the airplane hit the ground. The right wing tip hit the street; the left wing hit a light pole, and went through a set of power lines perpendicular to the flight path. The airplane continued through a wire fence with a cinder block wall behind it, and then through another cinderblock wall with a wire fence behind it.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The pilot's failure to maintain an adequate airspeed during the initial climb resulting in an inadvertent stall/spin. Contributing to the accident were the second pilots inadequate preflight, failure to properly secure the front baggage door, and the front left baggage door opening in flight, which likely distracted the first pilot"
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Classification:
Distraction in cockpitCargo door failure
Loss of control
Sources:
» NTSBPhotos
Video, social media
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 Los Angeles-Van Nuys Airport, CA to Long Beach Municipal Airport, CA as the crow flies is 53 km (33 miles).
Accident location: Exact; as reported in the official accident report.
Distance from Los Angeles-Van Nuys Airport, CA to Long Beach Municipal Airport, CA as the crow flies is 53 km (33 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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