So far, nobody has made mention of this incident in the newsgroups I
frequent so thought I would give it mention. I'm sure its gotten
national coverage. At approx 6:23 AM CST a Gulstream 1159a (formerly a
G3 I think) impacted the ground about 6-7 miles SW of Hobby airport as
it was on approach for runway 4. Conditions throughout the area were IFR
to low IFR with ground fog and ceilings that ranged in the 2-400 ft
range (as estimated by me.. I havent queried the official sources..)
local media reported Hobby as 1/8th of a mile vis.

The aircraft's debis path according to the media was south to north, and
began where the aircraft's wing struck a tall highway lighting pole (the
250-300 ft "area lighting" variety), shearing off the wing, resulting in
a fireball, and the destruction of the aircraft in a cow pasture
alongside the highway (The Sam Houston Tollway/Beltway 8). This was
about 2 miles from where my building partner in the Velocity lives, and
had I been going to a particular hospital to work, I would have likely
been an eyewitness (thats about the time I pass through that area).
Build partner's fiancee reported the whole area reeked of jet fuel.

The aircraft was enroute from Dallas Love to Hobby to pick up Former
Prez Bush for an international trip that he subsequently cancelled. 3
confirmed fatals, presumed to be PIC, SIC and flight attendant on the
Fractional Jet owned by an Oklahoma based company.

When all this was unfolding on the news, one of the doc's at work who
keeps a C-414 at Hobby went and got his plates, and for the charts, it
states that if they were on the path (which they werent quite on, based
on my knowledge of the lay of the land).. the FAF would be approx 1500
ft MSL and the next furthest out fix at 8.x miles would have been 1800
miles. They didnt report any trouble, and in fact just "dropped off the
air" according to media reports. I will not try and speculate, but I
must say it's frustrating that a professional crew, in a professionally
maintained plane in an area with saturated radar coverage practically to
the ground, on an IFR flight plan, presumably on a coupled approach or
intercept (ok.. I dont know that.. im guessing), presumably with GPWS
(dont the big bizjets have to have em or where they exempt?) managed to
pull off CFIT in a coastal plain (no mountains)..

At least they didnt take out anyone on the ground... the media down here
was already having a field day about those "small planes like gulfstreams"

some info sources at
www.chron.com
www.abc13.com
www.click2houston.com

Dave