2008 Biggin Hill Cessna Citation crash explained

2008 Biggin Hill Cessna Citation crash
Crash Image:Cessna citation ISP-Mojave-070126.jpg
Image Caption:A Cessna 500 Citation, similar to VP-BGE, a model 501
Date:30 March 2008
Type:Engine failure followed by pilot error
Occurrence Type:Accident
Site:Farnborough, London, United Kingdom
Coords:NGR
Origin:Biggin Hill, United Kingdom
Destination:Pau, France
Fatalities:5
Aircraft Type:Cessna 501 Citation
Operator:Ross Air
Tail Number:VP-BGE
Occupants:5
Passengers:3
Crew:2
Survivors:0

On 30 March 2008, a Cessna 501 Citation crashed into a house in Farnborough, London (UK), near Biggin Hill Airport, from where the aircraft had taken off a short time before. There were no survivors among the five people on board, which included former racing drivers Richard Lloyd and David Leslie.

Aircraft

The aircraft involved was a Bermudan-registered Cessna 501 Citation, tail number VP-BGE, construction number 500-0287, built in 1975.[1] At the time of the accident, the aircraft had completed 5,844 hours total time and 5,352 cycles.

Accident flight

The Citation took off at 14:32 local time from runway 21 at Biggin Hill airport, with destination Pau Pyrénées Airport in France. Less than two minutes into the flight, the pilot radioed an emergency call, reporting "engine vibrations" and requesting an immediate return to Biggin Hill.[2] The aircraft was given permission to land on any runway, and the pilots indicated that they would attempt to return to the departure runway. Shortly after the radio call the aircraft rapidly lost altitude and at 14:37 crashed into a property in Romsey Close, Farnborough. There were no survivors from the wreckage, which was consumed by fire, as was the house that the aircraft struck. A neighbouring property was also damaged by fire.[3] [4]

Casualties

All five occupants of the aircraft (two crew and three passengers) died in the accident.There were no physical injuries among residents of the street into which the plane crashed, although two people were later treated for shock.[5]

Crew

Passengers

A memorial service was held for the victims on 6 April 2008.[12]

Investigation

An Investigation was conducted by the Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB), assisted by the National Transportation Safety Board, the Federal Aviation Administration and by the aircraft manufacturer, Cessna[13] and the engine manufacturer, Pratt & Whitney Canada.[1] The preliminary report from the AAIB revealed that there was no debris found on the runway at Biggin Hill, and no evidence of a bird strike or foreign object damage to either engine.[14] [15]

The AAIB published its formal report into the accident on 21 May 2010.[16] It concluded that:

An inquest into the death of the five victims opened on 31 May 2011 in Bromley, London.[17] The inquest concluded on 1 June with verdicts of accidental death being returned in all five cases.[18]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Accident involving a Cessna aircraft (registration VP-BGE) at Farnborough, Kent on 30 March 2008. AAIB. 1 April 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20081218142016/http://www.aaib.gov.uk/cms_resources/2008%2D04%2D01%20%2D%20Cessna%20VP%2DBGE%20%2D%20AAIB%20statement%2Epdf. 18 December 2008. dead. (PDF)
  2. News: Nyc08Ra149. Her Majesty's Department of Transport. 23 June 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20081229010521/https://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief2.asp?ev_id=20080502X00587&ntsbno=NYC08RA149&akey=1. 29 December 2008. dead.
  3. News: Two Victims of Private Jet Crash Named . . 30 March 2008 . 31 March 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080516094700/http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0%2C%2C30100-1311171%2C00.html . 16 May 2008 .
  4. News: Private plane crashes into homes. BBC News. 30 March 2008. 31 March 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080403030702/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7321589.stm. 3 April 2008. live.
  5. News: Experts probe fatal crash scene. BBC News. 31 March 2008. 31 March 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080402232340/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7321997.stm. 2 April 2008. live.
  6. Web site: Family of Farnborough plane crash victim Chris Allarton make sad journey to crash site. . 2 April 2008. 23 January 2010.
  7. News: Tributes to Farnborough air crash victims as bodies are removed from site. The Times. UK. 31 March 2008. 15 August 2021. Alexi. Mostrous.
  8. News: David Leslie and Richard Lloyd killed in plane accident. Planet Le Mans. 30 March 2008. 31 March 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080401100907/http://www.planetlemans.com/2008/03/30/david-leslie-and-richard-lloyd-killed-in-plane-accident/. 1 April 2008. live.
  9. Web site: David Leslie. The Cumberland News. 3 April 2008. 23 January 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20080724095744/http://www.cumberland-news.co.uk/1.80943. 24 July 2008. dead.
  10. Web site: Family pays tribute to Richard Lloyd. The Advertiser. 5 April 2008. 6 April 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080410221423/http://www.buckinghamtoday.co.uk/buckingham-news/Family-pays-tribute-to-Richard.3952177.jp. 10 April 2008.
  11. Web site: Family of Farnborough plane crash victim Chris Allarton make sad journey to crash site. . 2 April 2008. 23 January 2010.
  12. News: Crash dead remembered at service. BBC News. 6 April 2008. 6 April 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080408135345/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7333425.stm. 8 April 2008. live.
  13. News: NTSB Assisting in Business Jet Accident in England. National Transportation Safety Board. 30 March 2008. 31 March 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080413165247/https://www.ntsb.gov/pressrel/2008/080330.html. 13 April 2008. dead.
  14. Web site: AAIB Special Bulletin S2/2008. AAIB. 1 April 2008.
  15. News: Co-pilot's final words revealed. BBC News. 25 April 2008. 23 January 2010.
  16. Web site: AAIB Formal Report 3/2010. AAIB. 21 May 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100524144926/http://www.aaib.gov.uk/publications/formal_reports/3_2010_vp_bge/3_2010_vp_bge_report_sections.cfm. 24 May 2010. live.
  17. News: Pilot's final words before jet crashes into Kent house. BBC News. 31 May 2011. 31 May 2011.
  18. News: Farnborough jet crash deaths were accidental. BBC News. 1 June 2011. 1 June 2011.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "2008 Biggin Hill Cessna Citation crash".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.