20181130023989A

On November 30, 2018, at approximately 1626Z (11:26 EDT), N525EG, a Cessna citation CJ2+, impacted terrain after departure from Clark county regional airport (jvy). The impact site was approximately 8.5 miles north-north west of jvy. The aircraft, a corporate jet, was registered to estoair LLC, being operated under the provisions of 14 CFR 91. The impact destroyed the aircraft. The pilot and two passengers suffered fatal injuries.

The aircraft was conducting a routine business flight from jvy to chicago midway airport (mdw). The single pilot/pic, one male passenger and one female passenger were on board. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The aircraft was on an instrument flight plan and in contact with air traffic control. The ksdf METAR at 1656Z reported; wind 090 @ 5 knots, visibility 9 statute miles, overcast 900 feet, temperature 53 degrees fahrenheit, dew point 48 degrees fahrenheit, altimeter-setting 29.98. Cloud tops were being reported between 2300 and 3000 feet.

As of November 1, 2018 the airline transport (ATP) rated pilot had reported 3901 total flight time, 293 total flight time in type, and 90 hours in type in the previous 90 days. Cami reports a current first class medical certificate with no reported medical conditions.

Per ATC transcript, the aircraft departed jvy, leveled to 3000, and contacted louisville departure at 1625:34Z. Louisville departure acknowledged and cleared them as filed to 10,000?. At 1625:51Z louisville departure acknowledged radar contact three miles north of jvy. At 1626:29Z louisville departure assigned frequency change and contact indy center. The pilot acknowledged. At 1627:46Z louisville departure queries indy center regarding radar contact on echo five golf, indy center replies negative contact. Following failed attempts to establish radio contact with the aircraft, emergency operations were set into place at approximately 1629Z by ATC.

The accident site was approximately 8.5 miles north-north west of the Clark county regional airport in a heavily wooded, hilly area. Post-accident investigation of the debris field is concurrent with high speed and a low angle penetration of the wooded area and subsequent impact with hilly terrain. The orientation of the debris field was from west to east.

Examination of the debris field indicated that the aircraft was heading east when it began a high-speed descent into the trees. As the aircraft penetrated the heavily wooded area it was shredded into small pieces, the largest piece approximately 2? X 3?, with the majority of the aircraft pieces smaller than 1?x 1?. Human remains littered the forest floor. The debris field was approximately 1500? Long, a triangular pattern spreading out to 268? At the widest point. The upper portions of the trees, IN the center third of debris field, were charred from what appears to be a flash fire. Eyewitness reports claim to have seen a fire ball and mushroom type cloud emit from the wooded area. There is no evidence of an in-flight fire. Pieces of all flight controls were accounted for in the debris field. There is no indication of an in-flight break up. The cockpit voice recorder (CVR) was recovered by the NTSB investigator along with the left and right engine fadec units.

The aircraft has flown 9HRS since the last maintenance event, November 20, 2018. The last maintenance was routine inspections with no abnormalities found. There was no work performed to the flight control group. A review of the of maintenance records indicate normal inspections and servicing.

On may 28, 2018 the aircraft was fitted with atlas winglets and load alleviation system, STC #SA03842NY. On July 13, 2018 both the left and right atlas tcu?s (tac control units) were replaced per atlas service bulletin 57-03.

Report to be amended as investigation continues.