# NTSB GAA17CA520: Cessna 680, N378QS, Wilmington, DE, September 3, 2017

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: September 3, 2017, 18:04 local (22:04 UTC)
- Place: Wilmington, DE
- Coordinates: 39.678611, -75.606666 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6786&lon=-75.6067&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Standing: Ground handling event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 27, 2017
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 95958
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA520
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95958/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95958
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA520

## Probable cause

The passenger’s inadvertent slip on the airplane's air stairs during deplaning, which resulted in a broken ankle.

## Findings

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

- [Personnel issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02050000): Personnel issues › Miscellaneous · Passenger (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 680, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02050000/cases.md?model=2076811), [All aircraft, 29 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02050000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Standing: Ground handling event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 680, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080/sequence.md?model=2076811), [All aircraft, 108 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The director of aviation safety for the operator reported that, after landing, while parked at the ramp, the pilot-in-command exited the flight deck to open the cabin door. He added that the pilot "found the lead passenger standing in front of the main cabin door waiting to exit the aircraft." He further added that "…[the pilot] was able to open the door from this position, but did not have room to exit the aircraft ahead of the passenger," and as the passenger started down the airplane's air stairs, her foot slipped, she landed on her knees, and she caught her balance by grabbing onto the hand rails. A subsequent medical examination revealed that the passenger had broken her ankle. The director of aviation safety reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The director of aviation safety for the operator reported that after landing, while parked at the ramp, the pilot in command exited the flight deck to open the cabin door. He added that the pilot "found the lead passenger standing in front of the main cabin door waiting to exit the aircraft." He further added that, "he [the pilot] was able to open the door from this position, but did not have room to exit the aircraft ahead of the passenger," and as the passenger started down the airplane's air stairs, her foot slipped, she landed on her knees, and caught her balance by grabbing onto the hand rails. A subsequent medical examination revealed the passenger broke her ankle. The director of aviation safety did not report that there were any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N378QS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N378QS-2026-07-02), registration cancelled 2026-07-02, S/N 680-0103, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 680 (NO SERIES)
- Registry model: [Cessna 680](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-680) (registry code 2076811) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PW306C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pw306c) (registry code 52169, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 680-0103
- Year built: 2006
- Airframe hours: 9410.1
- Engines: P&W CANADA PW-306C 5770 lbs thrust turbo fan; P&W CANADA PW-306C 5770 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91 subpart K
- Operator: Netjets Aviation Inc
- Registered owner: Netjets Sales Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: AAIP, May 21, 2017
- Departed: JST, JOHNSTOWN, PA
- Destination: ILG, Wilmington, DE
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: ILG, New Castle
- Equipment: Unknown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 16, 2017; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 8,180 total, 4,275 in this make and model, 6,485 as pilot in command, 62 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours
- Co-pilot; age 41; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 17, 2017; seat: right; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 6,661 total, 3,868 in this make and model, 3,420 as pilot in command, 107 in the last 90 days, 55 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 260° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observed at: KILG

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 1, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95958. 3.6 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40457566&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.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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