Cessna 560XL accident near Port Heiden, Alaska, April 30, 2008
On April 30, 2008 at about 5:45 pm local time, a Cessna 560XL, registered N590AK, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Port Heiden, Alaska (Port Heiden airport). It was an executive or corporate flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The flying pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while landing in a crosswind. A factor contributing to the accident was a crosswind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 30, 2008 · about 5:45 pm local time
- Place
- Port Heiden, Alaska · Port Heiden · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 560XL · all 560XLs on the register
- Registration
- N590AK · registry record · serial 560-5038
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Executive or corporate flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flightcrew was landing a twin-engine turbofan airplane on Runway 23, a 5,000-foot long, by 100-foot wide, gravel runway, which required a correction for right crosswind. The captain said that during touchdown he inadvertently applied a small amount of left rudder pedal input to correct for a right crosswind as the nose wheel touched down. The airplane veered sharply to the left and went off the left side of the runway. The left main landing gear collapsed, and the left wing struck the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. The captain reported that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. At the time of the accident, winds were reported to be 320 degrees, at 12 knots. The captain noted that the accident might have been prevented if the airplane had a nose wheel disconnect option.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Contributed to outcome
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Flight control system › Rudder control system › Incorrect use/operation
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 26,000 hours in all; 42 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 22,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 24, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,823 hours in all; 49 in this make and model; 75 in the last 90 days; 37 in the last 30 days; 3,525 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 25, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,069 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, April 3, 2008; 89 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 20,200 lb
- Seats: 13
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: P&W Canada PW545 Series (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: P&W Canada PW545 Series (turbofan); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ANC Anchorage AK at 11:20 am
- Destination: PTH Port Heiden AK
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 23, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 600 ft
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 12:36 pm from PAPH
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.