# NTSB CEN24LA054: Cessna 560XL, N475CW, Council Bluffs, IA, November 26, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: November 26, 2023, 16:40 local (22:40 UTC)
- Place: Council Bluffs, IA
- Coordinates: 41.172802, -95.804 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1728&lon=-95.8040&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute-descent: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 9 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA-FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 193463
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN24LA054
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193463/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193463
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA054

## Probable cause

An in-flight collision with a bird during decent.

## 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: [Cessna 560XL, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=2076702), [All aircraft, 358 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: animal(s)/bird(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Response/compensation; cases with it: [Cessna 560XL, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=2076702), [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.

- [Enroute-descent: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 560XL, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md?model=2076702), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that while descending through a cloud layer, a crewmember saw a flock of birds and alerted the pilot. The pilot reported that he disconnected the autopilot and attempted to avoid the birds. The birds impacted the airplane which resulted in substantial damage to the left horizontal stabilizer. The crew made an uneventful landing following the bird strike

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N475CW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N475CW), registered now, S/N 560-5080, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 560XL
- Registry model: [Cessna 560XL](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-560xl) (registry code 2076702) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PW545 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pw545-series) (registry code 52154, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 560-5080
- Year built: 2000
- Airframe hours: 5729.9
- Engines: P&W Canada PW545A 3804 lbs thrust turbo fan; P&W Canada PW545A 3804 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Ultra Air, LLC, doing business as Four Corners Aviation
- Registered owner: D White Holdings LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, September 15, 2023
- Departed: SRQ, Sarasota, FL
- Destination: OMA, Omaha, NE
- Flight plan: IFR
- Equipment: Angle of attack indicator, Auto-pilot, Data recorder, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, ADS-B, Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 7, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 5,018 total, 724 in this make and model, 4,102 as pilot in command, 33 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours
- Co-pilot; age 47; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 25, 2023; seat: right; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 3,040 total, 27 in this make and model, 2,365 as pilot in command, 27 in the last 90 days, 27 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 330° at 12 knots
- Temperature: 32 °F, dew point 21 °F
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observed at: KOMA, 9 nm away
- METAR: KOMA 262252Z 33012KT 10SM FEW044 00/M06 A3009 RMK AO2 PK WND 32027/2229 SLP202 T00001061=


## 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 20231126018259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20231126018259A), Nov 26, 2023: Cessna 560XL, Omaha, NE, Substantial damage. Aircraft was on approach on 8 mile final to oma at 2860 AGL when encountered aproximately ten geese. Attempted to go under when one goose struck the left…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 29, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193463. 3.3 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16676795&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photo array (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 565 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16676632&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf
- FAA birdstrike form (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 637 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16676727&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Birdstrike%20Report_Redacted-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.

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