A Cessna 525 CitationJet corporate jet sustained substantial damage in an accident near Elk City Airport, OK (ELK).

The airplane departed Rapid City Regional Airport, SD (RAP) about 20:08 local time (03:08 UTC) and was destined for ELK. Night instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) prevailed at the time of the accident.

The airplane was on an instrument approach to runway 17 at Elk City Airport about 23:00 local time (05:00 UTC) when it impacted a 29-foot tall electric utility pole about 10 feet 7 inches above ground level, located two miles north of the runway. The impact scattered debris from the separated pole for about 200 feet and resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and horizontal stabilizer. The pilot executed a go-around and diverted to Oklahoma City-Will Rogers Airport, OK (OKC), where it landed without incident about 23:40 local time (05:40 UTC).

The pilot reported that he thought he had leveled the airplane at an indicated altitude 2,500 feet msl and at no time during the descent and approach did the airplane's radar altimeter sound an alert indicating that he was below 400 feet agl radar altitude. He also reported that he never saw the terrain, never saw any obstructions, and he never saw the runway lights or airport environment.

An examination of the airplane after landing at OKC showed substantial damage to the nose structure, lower and upper fuselage, and the left side of the horizontal stabilizer. The right side of the radome had impact damage and there was a penetrating impact in the right side of the forward avionics bay. There was also evidence that both engines had ingested foreign objects, but there was not a resulting significant loss of engine power.

Probable Cause:

PROBABLE CAUSE: "The pilot's descent below the published minimum descent altitude for the instrument approach procedure, which resulted in impact with a utility pole."

Accident investigation:

Investigating agency: NTSB Status: Investigation completed Duration: 2 years and 2 months Accident number: CEN14LA129 Download report: Summary report

Classification:

Sources:

» FAA

METAR Weather report:

UTC / 23:05 local time:wind from 110 degrees at 5 knots, visibility of 2 and 1/2 miles in mist, and overcast clouds at 500 feet agl.

Photos



accident date:

type: Cessna 525 CitationJet

registration: N61YP accident date:type: Cessna 525 CitationJetregistration: N61YP

accident date:

type: Cessna 525 CitationJet

registration: N61YP accident date:type: Cessna 525 CitationJetregistration: N61YP

accident date:

type: Cessna 525 CitationJet

registration: N61YP accident date:type: Cessna 525 CitationJetregistration: N61YP





Map

not display the exact flight path.

Distance from Rapid City Regional Airport, SD to Elk City-Regional Business Airport, OK as the crow flies is 1000 km (625 miles).

This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports doesdisplay the exact flight path.Distance from Rapid City Regional Airport, SD to Elk City-Regional Business Airport, OK as the crow flies is 1000 km (625 miles).

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.