# NTSB CEN22LA084: Textron 525, N287CB, Dubuque, IA, December 21, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: December 20, 2021, 18:45 local (Dec 21, 2021, 00:45 UTC)
- Place: Dubuque, IA
- Coordinates: 42.5063, -90.6677 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.5063&lon=-90.6677&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 104447
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22LA084
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104447/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104447
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA084

## Probable cause

An inflight collision with a flock of geese that resulted in substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Object/animal/substance: animal(s)/bird(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Textron 525, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=2076611), [All aircraft, 358 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Approach: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901) (defining event); cases with it: [Textron 525, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md?model=2076611), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that while on a visual approach, the airplane impacted a flock of geese, which resulted in substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer. He stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N287CB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N287CB), registered now, S/N 525-0942, built 2017 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: TEXTRON AVIATION INC 525
- Registry model: [Textron 525](https://openairdocs.org/model/textron-525) (registry code 2076611) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Wmsintl FJ44-1AP](https://openairdocs.org/engine/wmsintl-fj44-1ap) (registry code 66003, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 525-0942
- Year built: 2017
- Airframe hours: 1795.3
- Engines: Williams FJ44-1AP-21 1965 lbs thrust turbo fan; Williams FJ44-1AP-21 1965 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Cottingham & Butler Insurance Services Inc
- Registered owner: Cottingham & Butler Insurance Services Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: KCAE, Columbia, SC
- Destination: KDBQ, Dubuque, IA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: DBQ
- Equipment: Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Onboard weather, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Angle of attack indicator

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 1, 2021; seat: right; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 5,856 total, 1,612 in this make and model, 5,269 as pilot in command, 68 in the last 90 days, 34 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours
- Pilot; age 35; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 10, 2021; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 2,127 total, 1,279 in this make and model, 1,184 as pilot in command, 76 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 310° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 21 °F
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observed at: KDBK, 5 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20211220021309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20211220021309A), Dec 20, 2021: Textron Aviation Inc 525, Dubuque, IA, Substantial damage. Aircraft on final to rwy 31 dbq at 2,500 ft struck by bird(s) on RH windscreen, RH engine pylon and vertical stabilizer. Aircraft landed normally. No injury to…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 18, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104447. 6.8 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 6.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13083633&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Signed6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 279 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13083888&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.