Accidents
Poor pilot skills downed Zurich Citation
The Swiss Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau blamed insufficient pilot proficiency and repeated interference of a passenger occupying the cockpit right

The Swiss Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau blamed insufficient pilot proficiency and repeated interference of a passenger occupying the cockpit right seat as the main causes of the crash of a Spanish Citation I/SP near Zurich Airport in April 2003. In the final report on the accident, examiners emphasized that a pilot flying a fast aircraft single-pilot must be particularly rigorous and systematic in structuring flight procedures. Adverse weather also played a role in the crash.

Citation EC-HFA crashed 2,300 feet short of the airport’s Runway 14. None of the occupants was injured in the crash, but the aircraft was heavily damaged.