Narrative:A Cessna 500 Citation I, N332SE, sustained substantial damage during a hard landing and runway excursion at the Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport, Colorado. The pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured.
The flight departed the San Jose International Airport, California and Pueblo, Colorado, was the destination.
The commercial pilot of the jet reported that he initially requested that 100 lbs of fuel be added to both fuel tanks. During the subsequent preflight inspection, the pilot decided that more fuel was needed, so he requested that the airplane's fuel tanks be topped off with fuel. However, he did not confirm the fuel levels or check the fuel gauges before takeoff. He departed on the flight and did not check the fuel gauges until about 1 hour after takeoff. He stated that, at that time, the fuel gauges were showing about 900-1,000 lbs of fuel per side, and he realized that the fuel tanks had not been topped off as requested. He reduced engine power to conserve fuel and to increase the airplane's flight endurance while he continued to his destination. When the fuel gauges showed about 400-500 lbs of fuel per side, the low fuel lights for both wing fuel tanks illuminated.
The pilot reported to air traffic control (ATC) that the airplane was low on fuel. ATC provided radar vectors to Gunnison and the airplane was cleared for the GPS-B RWY 24 approach. During the approach, the pilot reported that he had the runway in sight and ATC cleared the flight for a visual approach. The pilot reported that the airplane was high and fast. He misjudged the height above the ground and later stated that the airplane "landed very hard."
During touchdown, the airplane's left main landing gear and nose gear collapsed and the airplane veered off the runway, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The pilot's failure to fly a stabilized approach and his inadequate landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to ensure that the airplane was properly serviced with fuel before departing on the flight. "
Accident investigation:
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Investigating agency: | NTSB |
Status: | Investigation completed |
Duration: | 198 days (7 months) | Accident number: | CEN17LA047 | Download report: | Final report
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Classification:
Landing after unstabilized approach
Heavy landing
Runway excursion (veer-off)
Sources:
»
NTSB
METAR Weather report:
01:56 UTC / 18:56 local time:
KGUC 050156Z AUTO 34004KT 10SM FEW075 M08/M13 A3008 RMK AO2 SLP288 T10831128 FZRANO
Photos
accident date:
04-12-2016type: Cessna 500 Citation I
registration: N332SE
accident date:
04-12-2016type: Cessna 500 Citation I
registration: N332SE
accident date:
04-12-2016type: Cessna 500 Citation I
registration: N332SE
accident date:
04-12-2016type: Cessna 500 Citation I
registration: N332SE
accident date:
04-12-2016type: Cessna 500 Citation I
registration: N332SE
Flight track to Gunnison
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 San Jose-Norman Y. Mineta International Airport to Pueblo Memorial Airport, CO as the crow flies is 1522 km (951 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
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.