20000326004959A

(-23) At approximately 8:40 am cenral standard time, N130MR, a Cessna 525, impacted terrain during a VFR approach to Rutherford Ranch (85TX) located near Buda, Texas. The private ranch strip is approximately 17 miles south of austin, Texas. The aircraft appeared to be on left base for a landing to the south. The airline transport pilot, sole occupant, was fatally injuried. The IFR flight was cleared for a visual approach after descending to the minimum vectoring altitude of 2,600 feet MSL. The pilot reported "airport in sight" and canceled IFR. The aircraft departed sugarland/hull field near houston, Texas at approximately 8 am intending to pick up passengers at the ranch and then return to houston. The wreckage was not located until approximately 1 pm. The aircraft was destroyed on impact. A hays county fire marshall, living approximately 4 miles from the accident site, reported the weather as very poor visibility approximately 1/4 mile in heavy fog and drizzle at the time of the accident. Passengers at the ranch awaiting the arrival of the aircraft commented that they did not expect the pilot to land due to light drizzle and fog. Weather at the austin bergstrom airpor t at 8:39 local was reported as: wind 170 at 8, visibility 4 in mist, 400 overcast, temperature 21, dew point 21. At 8:53 local the visibility had increased to 5 with the ceiling varying betwwen 500 and 900 feet. During the final minutes of the flight, the aircraft was cleared from 5000 to 3000 feet MSL. The pilot requested lower and was cleared to 2600 feet MSL upon passing to 2049 foot MSL antenna. At that time the pilot canceled IFR. Radar data obtained from austin approach indicates the aircraft continued descending to 1000 feet MSL after squawking the VFR transponder code 1200. The rutherofrd ranch airport elevation is 983 feet MSL and is located on an area of terrain which is approximately 170 feet higher than the arrival path terrian. Evidence suggests that the aircraft struck the top of a tree while up-right on the landing configuration. Small pieces of sheet metal from the bottom of the right wing, right flap and right main gear door, along with pieces of landing light lens and a belly mounted antenna were found in and near the tree. The aircraft traveled approximately 400 feet beyond this first tree before passing through a smaller tree and then striking the ground inverted with the gear and flaps extended. Several trees of similar height, in line with the expected flight path, did not show any sign of damage suggesting that the aircraft may have climbed slightly before final impact. The initial ground scar, consistent in size with the horizontal stabilizer, contained small pieces of red beacon light lens which was installed on top of the vertical stabilizer. Although fuel odor was apparent at the accident site, there was no post impact fire. Since refueling facilities were no available at the ranch, it is presumed that the remaining fuel on board was sufficient to complete the return flight to houston. There is no evidence of aircraft system of equipment malfunction. The post accident medical examination did not reveal any condition which would impair the pilot. (.4)on March 26, 2000, approximately 0840 central standard time, a Cessna citation 525 twin turbofan airplane, N130MR, was destroyed when it impacted terrain during a visual approach to a private airport near Buda, Texas. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual. The airli NE transport pilot, sole occupant, was fatally injured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed for the code of federal regulations part 91 flight. The cross-country flight originated from houston, Texas, approximately 0745. The flight departed the sugar land municipal airport near houston, Texas, and was destined for the private airport (Rutherford Ranch 85TX) to pick up three passengers. According to air traffic control records, the pilot cancelled the IFR flight plan approximately 3-5 miles southeast of austin, Texas. The pilot reported that he had the airport in sight. That was the last radio communication controllers had with the pilot. Radar data on the aircraft, while its transponder was squawking 1200 [visual flight rules (VFR)], depicted the airplane descending from 2,400 feet MSL to 1,000 feet MSL (at an average descent rate of 1,900 feet per minute), before radar data was lost. The last radar return from the airplane indicated that it was at 1,000 feet MSL and approximately 5,000 feet northeast of the approach end of the runway. No distress calls from the pilot were reported.