SEA03FA045

History of flight

On March 15, 2003, approximately 1425 mountain standard time, a Cessna 501, N70FJ, was destroyed when it impacted terrain following an uncontrolled descent near Carey, Idaho. The airplane was registered to Dancing Wind Aviation LLC, of Livingston, Montana, and operated by the pilot. The airline transport pilot and two passengers sustained fatal injuries. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal cross-country flight. The flight originated from the Salt Lake International Airport (SLC), Salt Lake City, Utah, at 1340, and was destined for the Friedman Memorial Airport (SUN), Hailey, Idaho.

According to initial data from the Western Air Defense Sector, McCord Air Force Base, Tacoma, Washington, and the Salt Lake Air Route Traffic Control Center (SLC ARTCC), N70FJ departed flight level 350 for flight level 240 at 1359:57. At 1407:08 the pilot reported that he was at flight level 240, and at 1407:11 SLC ARTCC cleared the aircraft to descend and maintain flight level 190. At 1408:25 the pilot queried SLC ARTCC "if aircraft were missing the approach into Hailey?" At 1408:29 the controller told the pilot, "You can make it in on the RNAV (Area Navigation) approach sir. Are you able the RNAV?" The pilot replied, "That's affirmative." At 1408:37 the controller further advised the pilot, "The last one made it in on an RNAV just at the bare minimums and Hailey says it's getting worse there, so I got a couple stacked up right now. I'll get you lower and a holding pattern set up. I'll put you in a hold at Oreye if that's going to work for you sir. N70FJ, cleared direct Oreye. Expect holding at Oreye and expect the RNAV approach from there once I get the pattern clear sir." At 1409:07 N70FJ confirmed "direct Oreye for Fox Juliet." At 1409:09 the controller cleared the aircraft to 15,000 feet, which was followed by N70FJ confirming the clearance. At 1410:21 the controller instructed the pilot of N70FJ to expedite his descent to 16,000 feet for traffic. There was no response. From 1410:33 to 1417:21, SLC ARTCC made ten attempts to establish radio communications with N70FJ, all of which proved unsuccessful. At 1417:26 the controller requested N70FJ to "ident if you hear me." At 1417:39 the controller confirmed that she had received N70FJ's ident, that she had not received any replies to her previous attempts to contact the aircraft, and that if possible the pilot might try using another radio to establish communications with SLC ARTCC. The controller also instructed the pilot to descend and maintain 15,000 feet. At 1418:36 the controller cleared the aircraft direct to the Oreye intersection for the GPS (global positioning system) approach and to acknowledge with an ident. There was no further radio communication or radar contact with N70FJ. Post accident data provided by SLC ARTCC indicates center received the ident at 1417:35 reporting 19,700. The ident remained on for one (1) minute until 1418:35.

On March 15, 2003, at 1527, an alert notification (ALNOT) was issued for N70FJ. At approximately 0700 on March 16, 2003, the aircraft wreckage was located in an area of mountainous terrain bordered by a valley running east to west 10 nautical miles north of Carey, Idaho, and 15 nautical miles east-southeast of SUN. On March 18, 2003, the aircraft wreckage was recovered by personnel from Air Transport, Phoenix, Arizona.

Personnel

The pilot held an airline transport pilot certificate with a multiengine land rating and a Cessna 500 type rating, commercial privileges for single engine land and sea airplanes, and private privileges for helicopters. The pilot obtained his Cessna 500 type rating on April 12, 1986, and his most recent single pilot proficiency check for the Cessna 500 was satisfactorily completed on May 24, 2002. Records furnished by a family member indicated that the pilot had accumulated a total of 1,382 hours of total flying time in Cessna 500 series aircraft from March, 1985, through December, 1999.

According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) aeromedical records, dated April 11, 2002, the pilot reported having 14,000 total flying hours with 150 hours in the 6 months prior to the examination. The pilot held a second class medical certificate with the limitation "must wear corrective lenses".

Aircraft information

N70FJ, a Cessna 501 Citation (certified for single pilot operation), serial number 0073, was issued an airworthiness certificate on July 31, 1978. The airplane was configured to carry six passengers and two pilots, and was equipped with two Williams/Rolls FJ44-2A fanjet engines rated at 2,300 pounds of thrust per engine.

The Cessna Citation Operating Manual limitations for single pilot operations include in part: "1 boom microphone or headset mounted microphone." The operating manual states in part: "The pilot-in-command must have a C-500 Type Rating and meet the requirements of FAR 61.58 for two-pilot operation, or FAR 61.57 for single pilot operation (Model 501 only).

The aircraft was modified in accordance with numerous Supplemental Type Certificates (STCs) during the period of August 2002 through October 2002. These modifications included the Eagle SP recontoured wing leading edges, increased gross weight, increased fuel capacity, installation of the Williams/Rolls FJ44-2A engines, complete interior refurbishment, installation of Keith Products air conditioning system, aft baggage compartment, and numerous interior modifications. There were also numerous avionics installations and alterations to the aircraft, including Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS), Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System (EGPWS), Electronic Flight Information System (EFIS), Multi Function Display (MFD), and a Global Positioning System (GPS).

The last completed Aircraft Flight Log page includes flight information through March 10, 2003, which included an aircraft total time of 7118.0. The flight time for the final four flights between March 13th and March 15th were estimated by the Flying J, Inc., Aviation Department, based on their knowledge of the pilot's activity during this time period. The estimated total aircraft time at the time of the accident was 7120.2 hours, and the total time for each engine was 91.8 hours.

Meteorological information

The Terminal Aerodrome Forecast (TAF) for Hailey, Idaho (SUN), issued March 15, at 1030, valid March 15, 1100 to March 16, 1100, indicated wind 160 degrees at 5 knots, visibility greater than 6 miles, showers in the vicinity, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet, overcast clouds at 6,000 feet; temporary 1100 to 1400, light rain showers, broken clouds at 2,000 feet, overcast clouds at 6,000 feet. From 1400, wind 160 degrees at 5 knots, visibility greater than 6 statute miles, light rain showers, overcast clouds at 2,500 feet; temporary from 1400 to 1800 visibility 4 statute miles, light rain showers, mist, overcast clouds at 1,500 feet.

At 1346, the weather reporting facility at Hailey, Idaho (SUN), located approximately 15 nautical miles northwest of the accident site, reported wind 260 degrees at 5 knots, visibility 15 statute miles, showers in the vicinity, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet, overcast clouds at 3,000 feet, temperature 7 degrees C, dew point 1 degree C, and an altimeter setting of 29.62 inches of Mercury.

At 1446, the SUN weather reporting facility reported wind 350 degrees at 5 knots, visibility 20 statute miles, overcast clouds at 2,700 feet, temperature 6 degrees C, dew point 1 degree C, and an altimeter setting of 29.61 inches of Mercury.

A Senior NTSB meteorologist reported that occasional moderate rime/mixed icing was present between the freezing level and FL 220, and that there were no Non-convective or Convective SIGMETs issued relevant to the accident area.

Pilot reports (PIREPS) indicat