Gulfstream safety

Darkness increased and weather conditions deteriorated as the pilots continued a nonprecision instrument approach below minimums without adequate visual references at the Aspen (Colorado, U.S.) airport. A delayed departure, a nighttime landing curfew and pressure from the charter customer to land were factors cited in the controlled-flight-into-terrain (CFIT) accident

After take-off, immediately after switching on the wing anti-ice system, the cabin crew reported to the pilots that a loud rushing air noise could be heard in the area of the root of the left wing. Shortly afterwards, it was noticed some systems anomalies. The crew quickly reported to ATC that they had quite a bad smell of smoke in the aircraft and that they intended to return immediately to Zurich (Switzerland).

The US NTSB determined that the probable cause of this accident was the flight crew's failure to adequately monitor and cross-check the flight instruments during the approach. Contributing to the accident was the flight crew's failure to select the instrument landing system frequency in a timely manner and to adhere to approved company approach procedures, including the stabilized approach criteria.