Cessna 560 accident near Walton, Indiana, December 2, 2013
On December 2, 2013 at about 9:10 pm local time, a 2002 Cessna 560, registered N810QS, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (descent) near Walton, Indiana. It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The inflight separation of the upper and lower right engine cowlings for reasons that could not be determined based on available evidence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 2, 2013 · about 9:10 pm local time
- Place
- Walton, Indiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 560 Encore, built 2002 · all 560s on the register
- Registration
- N810QS · registry record · serial 560-0625
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight crew of the twin-engine jet heard a "bang," and experienced a slight yawing of the airplane during the initial descent for landing. The flight continued to a normal landing, and a post-flight inspection revealed that the right engine upper and lower cowlings had separated from the engine and struck the right horizontal stabilizer. Recovered sections of the departed cowling doors were examined, but the reason for the separation could not be determined because the engine cowling quick-release fasteners were not recovered.
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
- Part(s) separation from AC during enroute (descent) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft structures › (general) › (general) › Failure
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,873 hours in all; 2,743 in this make and model; 103 in the last 90 days; 32 in the last 30 days; 2,725 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 30, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 10,132 hours in all; 1,715 in this make and model; 90 in the last 90 days; 41 in the last 30 days; 591 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 21, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: unk
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,752 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, September 13, 2013; 429 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 16,830 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: P&W Canada PW535A (turbofan); 7,961 hours total
- Engine 2: P&W Canada PW535A (turbofan); 7,961 hours total
- Operator: Netjets Aviation, Inc
The flight
- Departed from: KRSW Fort Myers FL at 7:30 pm
- Destination: KMDW Chicago IL
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 8,500 ft; a few clouds at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 41°F (5°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.79 inHg
- Observation at 8:58 pm from KGUS, 2 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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.