Weird + Sonic Booms over D.C. FRZ

[0TreeLemur]

Just read about a Cessna Citation (N611VG) that took off from SE TN on an IFR flight plan to an airport on Long Island, and climbed to FL340.  Once it got to Long Island, it didn't descend, rather it made a 180-degree turn and proceeded back on course towards is point of origin, taking it directly over the Washington Monument.   F16's were dispatched, breaking the sound barrier to catch it.   Flares were fired, to no effect.  The Citation crashed into a wooded area in Virginia. 

Would any modern GPS set a course back to its origin if an approach is not made at the destination?

Here's the scary bit:  https://globe.adsbexchange.com/?icao=a7f457

RIP

[toto]

Seems a lot like the Payne Stewart flight, minus the 180. 

It would really suck to be the F-16 pilot doing everything possible to try to get the Citation pilot’s attention and then basically watch it fly into the ground. 
 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2023/06/04/sonic-boom-washington-virginia-maryland/

https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/314788

[exM20K]

37 minutes ago, 0TreeLemur said:

Would any modern GPS set a course back to its origin if an approach is not made at the destination?

I was pondering that very question yesterday.  I plan on seeing how the G1000 GFC700 handle that on a cross country this week.

RIP for those lost in this crash.  
-dan

[hais]

I believe they switch to heading mode

[MooneyMitch]

This is incredibly sad and tragic for those left behind.  So sad 

[MB65E]

1 hour ago, hais said:

I believe they switch to heading mode

Nah, they were in nav mode, but had the the approach loaded into the FMS. The CCC VOR was one of the way points, the airplane flew exactly what was loaded. However, one will still need to hit approach mode for it to do the ILS. The airplane continued on the 239° heading derived from the FMS until it ran out of gas. Sad deal! 

Im not aware of a system that returns home unless the pilot loads it. 

-Matt

 

[hais]

8 hours ago, MB65E said:

airplane continued on the 239° heading

"They" was in reference to auto pilot behavior after reaching the last way point, this seems to confirm 

[Pinecone]

I heard the intercept calls on 121.5.  I was flying KFDK back to 0W3 (home) and heard the controller calling and stating that it was an armed intercept and come up on 121.5 if monitoring.

I just figured someone stumbled into the SFRA.

[Ibra]

12 hours ago, 0TreeLemur said:

Would any modern GPS set a course back to its origin if an approach is not made at the destination?

Without manual input of “altitude select/capture” and “approach mode” (within 30nm radius) it won’t fly approaches even with 3D GPS & 3D AP, I think our AP coupled to the typical guidance from GTN/GPS will just fly past destination at the selected cruise level, I am not sure about Collins Avionics stuff found in bizjets?

There was a similar sad story in Europe with unresponsive family crew…

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/sep/05/private-jet-that-crashed-into-baltic-sea-latvia-german-businessman-karl-peter-griesemann

Edited June 5, 2023 by Ibra

[0TreeLemur]

10 hours ago, MB65E said:

The airplane continued on the 239° heading derived from the FMS until it ran out of gas.

From the ADS-B exchange data, it was not aligned with the approach course.   It seemed to be heading back to the departure airport.  A heading of 239 would have kept them out of the FRZ.