Reports of mechanical problems preceded the fatal crash of a 1999 Cessna CitationJet (N711BX) on Monday near Cedar Fort, Utah, some 32 miles south-southwest of Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC). Based on data from FlightAware, the CitationJet departed SLC at 9:52 a.m. local time on an IFR flight plan to Tucson, Ariz.
Radar data indicated IMC and freezing precipitation along the route of flight. While climbing to 14,000 feet, the pilot told departure control that the twinjet’s autopilot had failed and that he needed to “climb out of the weather right now." ATC approved a climb to FL180, amended to FL230 after the pilot declared Mayday and told controllers, “I do need to get up higher…losing different instruments. I'd really like to get into clear weather.”
One minute later, as the aircraft climbed through FL200, the pilot acknowledged a no-gyro left turn vector back on course from ATC. No further communications were recorded from the accident aircraft.
ADS-B-derived flight tracking data shows the CitationJet on a north-northwest course before it entered a steep descent and struck a snow-covered field. Both occupants were killed. Local officials reported a debris field over two miles long and a quarter mile wide.