Introduction
On 15 July 2009, a Cessna 525 Citation Jet 1, registered D-IMAC, operated by VIP-FLIGHTS GmbH, was involved in an accident upon landing at Žilina Airport (LZZI). The flight originated from Vienna-Schwechat Airport (LOVWW) and was conducted under instrument flight rules (IFR) with a crew of two and no passengers.
Flight and Weather
The flight entered the Bratislava FIR via the ROMIS waypoint at 20:13 UTC due to thunderstorm activity on the route. The crew performed a standard NDB instrument approach to Runway 06. At 20:24, the controller reported the runway as dry and clean, but soon after, a rain shower began, and the runway became wet. The controller advised the crew of "shower rain" at 20:25. During the final approach, weather conditions deteriorated rapidly, with thundery activity and heavy rain reported at the time of the accident.
Accident Sequence
The aircraft touched down approximately 300 meters beyond the Runway 06 threshold. After landing, it overran the runway and continued into the grass area beyond the Runway 24 threshold, coming to a stop about 120 meters past the end of Runway 06. The accident occurred at 20:29 UTC.
Aftermath
The aircraft sustained minor damage: the nose gear collapsed and the forward fuselage was damaged. Both pilots were unharmed and able to exit the aircraft unaided. They showed signs of shock and received first aid; breathalyzer tests for alcohol were negative. The accident site was documented, and the investigation was conducted by the Slovak Ministry of Transport's Air Accident and Incident Investigation Unit.
No fire occurred. The airport's rescue services responded according to standard procedures. No other damage was reported.