# NTSB WPR21LA335: Cessna 560XL, N827JS, Salt Lake City, UT, September 3, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: September 3, 2021, 14:37 local (20:37 UTC)
- Place: Salt Lake City, UT
- Coordinates: 40.788393, -111.97777 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7884&lon=-111.9778&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-IFR final approach: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 6 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 103797
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR21LA335
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103797/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103797
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA335

## Probable cause

The airplane’s impact with birds during approach.

## 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)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Approach-IFR final approach: 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 captain and co-pilot reported that, about 1 nm from the final approach fix and about 4,000 ft above the ground, the airplane shuddered. During this time the co-pilot heard multiple loud thuds and realized they had collided with a flock of birds. The flight crew did not detect any unusual flight characteristics for the remainder of the flight and landed without further incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the inboard leading edge of the left wing. The flight crew reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N827JS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N827JS-2026-03-25), registration cancelled 2026-03-25, S/N 560-5116, 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: 560-5116
- Year built: 2000
- Airframe hours: 10659.4
- Engines: Pratt & Whitney PW545A 4100 hp turbo fan; Pratt & Whitney PW545A 4100 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Exclusive Jets LLC, doing business as Fly Exclusive
- Registered owner: Fe 5116 LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: AAIP, August 23, 2021, 248 hours before
- Departed: LAS, Las Vegas, NV
- Destination: Same as departure
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: SLC, Salt Lake City International Airport, runway 35, 9,596 × 150 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Auto-pilot, Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Onboard weather, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 38; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 6, 2021; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 4,076 total, 528 in this make and model, 2,798 as pilot in command, 140 in the last 90 days, 33 in the last 30 days
- Co-pilot; age 34; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 24, 2021; seat: right; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 2,896 total, 241 in this make and model, 1,702 as pilot in command, 139 in the last 90 days, 42 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 350° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter: 30.08 inHg
- Observed at: KSLC, 1 nm away
- METAR: METAR KSLC 032054Z 35011KT 10SM FEW085 27/05 A3008 RMK AO2 SLP131 TCU DSNT E AND SE FU ALFT T02670050 56007=


## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 6, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103797. 3.5 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 3.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12728574&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Accident photograph (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 224 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12776740&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photographs-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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