# NTSB CEN17LA047: Cessna Citation 500, N332SE, Gunnison, CO, December 5, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 4, 2016, 18:53 local (Dec 5, 2016, 01:53 UTC) - Place: Gunnison, CO - Coordinates: 38.534442, -106.931663 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.5344&lon=-106.9317&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 20, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Denver FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 94456 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN17LA047 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94456/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94456 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA047 ## 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. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 500, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2076602), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 500, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=2076602), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 500, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2076602), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 500, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=2076602), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 500, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2076602), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 500, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2076602), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis 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 that the airplane was low on fuel and diverted the flight to the nearest airport. The pilot reported that the airplane was high and fast on the visual approach for landing. He misjudged the height above the ground and later stated that the airplane "landed very hard." 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. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On December 4, 2016, about 1853 mountain standard time, a Cessna Citation 500, N332SE, sustained substantial damage during a hard landing and runway excursion at the Gunnison-Crested Butte Airport (GUC), Gunnison, Colorado. The pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a business flight. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and the flight was on an instrument flight plan. The flight departed the San Jose International Airport (SJC), San Jose, California, about 1616 and Pueblo, Colorado, was the destination. The pilot reported that he originally requested that the fixed base operator (FBO) at SJC put 100 gallons of jet fuel in each wing fuel tank. Later during his preflight, the pilot decided that more fuel was needed, so he went back into the FBO and requested that the airplane's fuel tanks be topped off with fuel. The pilot was still in the FBO when he saw the lineman fuel the airplane from the fuel truck. He paid for the fuel without looking at the receipt and then proceeded out to the airplane. The pilot reported that he did not recheck the fuel gauges before departing SJC. The pilot reported that he departed on the flight, but it was not until about an hour after takeoff that he checked the fuel gauges. He stated that the fuel gauges were showing about 900 to 1,000 lbs of fuel per side, and he realized that the fuel tanks had not been topped off with fuel. He reduced the throttles to conserve fuel and to increase the airplane's flight endurance while he continued the flight to Pueblo, Colorado. The pilot reported that when the fuel gauges showed about 400 to 500 lbs of fuel per side, the low fuel lights for both wing fuel tanks illuminated. About 1840, the pilot reported to air traffic control (ATC) that the airplane was low on fuel and asked to land at the nearest airport. ATC provided radar vectors to GUC and initially cleared the flight for the ILS runway 6 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 on the approach. At 500 ft above ground level, the airspeed was about 120 knots. He misjudged the runway and the height above the ground and he stated, "I landed very hard on runway 24." During touchdown, the airplane bounced and then impacted the runway. 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. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. At 1856, the surface weather observation at GUC was: wind 340 degrees at 4 knots; visibility 10 miles; sky condition few clouds at 7,500 ft; temperature -8 degrees C; dew point -13 degrees C; altimeter30.08 inches of mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N332SE](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N332SE-2019-01-31), registration cancelled 2019-01-31, S/N 500-0332 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA Citation 500 - Registry model: [Cessna 500](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-500) (registry code 2076602) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada JT15D-1 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-jt15d-1-series) (registry code 52060, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 500-0332 - Year built: 1975 - Airframe hours: 5218 - Engines: P&W JT-15D-1A turbo fan; P&W JT-15D-1A 2200 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, August 31, 2016 - Departed: SJC, San Jose, CA - Destination: PUB, Pueblo, CO - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: GUC, Gunnison-Crested Butte Airport, runway 24, 9,400 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Auto-pilot, Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Satellite tracking device, Onboard weather, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 2,267 total, 142 in this make and model, 1,703 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 340° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 18 °F, dew point 9 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: GUC ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20161204016719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20161204016719A), Dec 4, 2016: Cessna 500, Gunnison, CO, Substantial damage. On 12/4/16 aircraft diverted to Gunnison-Crested Butte airport after reporting low on fuel. Aircraft landed hard. Left main landing gear and nose landing gear… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 20, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94456. 3.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40451324&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Witness Statement (item 2, .PDF, 49 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40451325&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Master.PDF - Flight Track Log Data (item 3, .PDF, 300 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40451326&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Flight%20Track%20Log%20Data-Master.PDF - Flight Track Near Gunnison, CO (item 4, .PDF, 162 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40451327&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Flight%20Track%20Near%20Gunnison,%20CO-Master.PDF - Email About the Fuel (item 5, .PDF, 163 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40451328&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Email%20About%20the%20Fuel%20-Master.PDF - Photo Log (item 6, .PDF, 866 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40451329&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20Log-Master.PDF From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.