The National Transportation Safety Board last week published its preliminary report — essentially a list of the facts gathered to this point — about the December 29, 2016, crash into Lake Erie of a Cessna Citation CJ4. The Part 91-operated jet disappeared into the dark waters of the lake about a minute after departing Cleveland’s Burke Lakefront Airport (BKL). Although the airplane was operating on an IFR flight plan, VFR conditions prevailed at takeoff. The Citation’s short flight was returning the aircraft owners and some friends to the aircraft’s home airport at Ohio State University in Columbus. The accident claimed the lives of all six people aboard, one of whom was the pilot.
NTSB Posts Preliminary Report on Cleveland CJ Crash
Key Takeaways:
- A Cessna Citation CJ4 crashed into Lake Erie on December 29, 2016, shortly after takeoff from Cleveland, claiming the lives of all six people aboard.
- The NTSB's preliminary report notes the pilot was highly qualified with recent training and a new type rating for the aircraft.
- Post-takeoff, the jet exceeded its assigned altitude of 2,925 feet msl, then entered a rapid, uncontrolled descending right turn, crashing into the lake within 37 seconds.
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