# NTSB ERA25LA073: Cessna 560, N981AG, Atlanta, GA, December 11, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: December 11, 2024, 02:30 local (07:30 UTC) - Place: Atlanta, GA - Coordinates: 33.651196, -84.422137 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6512&lon=-84.4221&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 199408 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA073 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199408/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199408 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA073 ## Probable cause The vehicle driver’s inadequate visual lookout while driving on a non-licensed vehicle roadway in restricted visibility conditions, which resulted in a collision with a taxiing airplane. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Light condition: dark](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation; cases with it: [Cessna 560, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md?model=2076750), [All aircraft, 448 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md) - [Ceiling/visibility/precip: rain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035035): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation; cases with it: [Cessna 560, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035035/cases.md?model=2076750), [All aircraft, 56 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035035/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Ground crew (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 560, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=2076750), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 560, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=2076750), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight crew of the business jet was taxiing from the ramp to the runway at night after receiving their departure clearance. As they transitioned from the ramp area to the taxiway, they were crossing a non-licensed vehicle roadway (NLVR). A vehicle traveling along the NLVR collided with the nose of the airplane, substantially damaging the forward portion of the fuselage. The driver of the vehicle stated that she was aware of the signage requiring vehicles to yield to aircraft, and that when she didn’t see an aircraft as she approached the intersection, she continued to drive. She further described that it was dark and raining, but not foggy, and that it was difficult to see. She did not realize that the vehicle had struck the airplane until after the collision, and when she looked back after coming to a stop, she saw the airplane and its illuminated wingtip lights. She further stated that she had not anticipated encountering an airplane at that time of the morning, had become complacent, and that she should have been more observant. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N981AG](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N981AG), registered now, S/N 560-0466, built 1998 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 560 - Registry model: [Cessna 560](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-560) (registry code 2076750) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada JT15D 5 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-jt15d-5-series) (registry code 52113, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 560-0466 - Year built: 1998 - Airframe hours: 1489 - Engines: P&W JT15D-5D 3045 lbs thrust turbo fan; P&W JT15D-5D 3045 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Operator: Aitheras Aviation group, LLC - Registered owner: International Aviation Sales Ltd - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, August 24, 2024, 142 hours before - Destination: TPA, Tampa, FL - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: ATL, Hartsfield/Jackson Atlanta International Airport - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 20, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 3,304 total, 699 in this make and model, 2,777 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Co-pilot; age 50; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: right; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 5,712 total, 2,405 in this make and model, 5,431 as pilot in command, 74 in the last 90 days, 24 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night - Wind: 230° at 9 knots - Visibility: 4 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,200 ft broken - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.78 inHg - Observed at: ATL, 2 nm away - METAR: KATL 110743Z 23009KT 4SM RA BR SCT007 BKN012 OVC019 17/16 A2978 RMK AO2 P0007 T01670156 ## 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 20241211021399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241211021399A), Dec 11, 2024: Cessna 560, Atlanta, GA, Substantial damage. On December 11, 2024, at approximately 2:38 am local time a Cessna citation C-560-L aircraft was cleared to joined taxiway alpha 7 at the Atlanta international… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 3, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199408. 4.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18173722&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Operators%206120%20Accident%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - vehicle drver interview (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 100 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18193941&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation_Truck%20Operator_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Aerocore company accident and incident report (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 134 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18194259&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Initial%20Company%20Incident%20Report-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 4, PDF, 6 pages, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18193439&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array_Accident%20Site%20and%20Damage%20N981AG-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.