Fatal Nighttime Aerobatic Maneuver Leads to Cessna Citation Bravo Crash

Casualties unknown • nahe Reinhardtsdorf-Schöna, DE

A Cessna 550 B Citation Bravo crashed near Reinhardtsdorf-Schöna after the crew attempted an unauthorized roll maneuver during a night flight.

What happened

On the evening of February 14, 2010, a Cessna 550 B Citation Bravo crashed in a forested area near Reinhardtsdorf-Schöna, Germany. The aircraft was operating an IFR positioning flight from Prague, Czech Republic, to Karlstad, Sweden.

During the climb to flight level 270, the crew engaged in a conversation regarding performing an aerobatic maneuver. Following this discussion, the aircraft entered a roll. The maneuver quickly became uncontrolled, causing the aircraft to enter a steep dive with a pitch angle reaching -85 degrees. The aircraft struck the ground with high energy, resulting in the deaths of two people, the pilot in command and the co-pilot. The aircraft was destroyed, and the impact caused significant damage to the surrounding forest.

The investigation

The BFU investigation analyzed data from the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVLT), as well as radar and air traffic control communications. The investigation examined the wreckage and the crew's professional backgrounds.

Analysis of the CVR revealed that while the co-pilot was the pilot flying, the pilot in command did not intervene to stop the unauthorized maneuver. Instead, the investigation found that the pilot in command appeared to encourage the action. The investigation also noted that the aircraft's technical condition was sound and that the airframe had withstood the forces of the maneuver prior to the loss of control.

Findings

The primary cause of the accident was the crew's attempt to perform an aerobatic roll, a maneuver not intended or approved for use in commercial transport aviation. This maneuver led to a loss of spatial orientation, preventing the crew from recovering the aircraft.

Several contributing factors were identified:

  • The pilots lacked specific aerobatic training.
  • The flight was conducted at night, which deprived the crew of essential visual references for orientation.
  • A breakdown in professional Crew Resource Management (CRM) occurred due to the personal relationship between the two pilots, undermining the cockpit hierarchy.
  • The Cessna 550 B Citation Bravo was neither designed nor certified for aerobatic flight.

Probable cause

The accident was caused by the crew attempting an unauthorized roll maneuver during a night flight, which resulted in a loss of spatial orientation and an unrecoverable descent.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2010-02-14 Cessna 550 B Citation Bravo accident near nahe Reinhardtsdorf-Schöna, DE?

A Cessna 550 B Citation Bravo crashed near Reinhardtsdorf-Schöna after the crew attempted an unauthorized roll maneuver during a night flight.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2010-02-14 involved a Cessna 550 B Citation Bravo, at nahe Reinhardtsdorf-Schöna, DE.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The accident was caused by the crew attempting an unauthorized roll maneuver during a night flight, which resulted in a loss of spatial orientation and an unrecoverable descent.

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