Cessna 500 accident near Farnborough, Ke, Gb, March 30, 2008
On March 30, 2008 at about 1:38 pm local time, a Cessna 500, registered VPBGE, was destroyed in an accident near Farnborough, Ke. It was a personal flight under non-U.S. private rules. 5 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 30, 2008 · about 1:38 pm local time
- Place
- Farnborough, Ke, United Kingdom · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 5 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 500 · all 500s on the register
- Registration
- VPBGE · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On March 30, 2008, at 1338 universal coordinated time, a Cessna Citation 500, Bermudian registration VP-BGE, was destroyed when it impacted a residence shortly after takeoff from the Biggin Hill Airport, Farnborough, Kent, United Kingdom. The two flight crew members and 3 passengers were fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules flight plan had been filed for the personal flight destined for Pau, France. The airplane departed runway 21 at 1333. The copilot requested to return to the airport due to an unspecified problem, and stated that they were experiencing an engine vibration. This investigation is under jurisdiction of the AAIB. Any further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: Department of Transport Air Accidents Investigation Branch Berkshire Copse Road Aldershot Hants GU11 2HH United Kingdom This report is for informational purposes and contains only information released by the United Kingdom.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Injury: fatal
Co-pilot
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Operator: Relton Mews Air Limited
The flight
- Departed from: EGKB Farnborough, Ke
- Destination: Pau
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Wind: from 270° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 9999 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.54 inHg
- Observation at 1:22 pm from EGKB
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.