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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 2, 2013 · about 9:10 pm local time · cases in 2013
- 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 other cases naming the airframe structure
- 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
12 documents, released by the NTSB on February 9, 2017. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot's Statement - PIC | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot's Statement -sic | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Evidence Control Form | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Maintenance Records - Summary | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Last Aaip Inspection | PDF, 22 pages | View Download |
| 8 | N810QS 120 Work History | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 9 | Textron Examination of Damaged Nacelle Doors | PDF, 17 pages | View Download |
| 10 | Textron Examination of Quick-release Fasteners | PDF, 13 pages | View Download |
| 11 | Textron Letter/email Declining Safety Information Dissemination | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 12 | Cockpit Voice Recorder - Specialist's Factual Report | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N810QS on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Cessna 560 Citation V, Ultra, Encore and Excel 1,344 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Cessna 72,677 aircraft on the register
- Engine: P&W Canada PW535A 124 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Engine: P&W Canada PW535A 124 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Southwest Florida International · departed from
- Chicago Midway International · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in Indiana 1,367 since 1982 · 179 in the last ten years
- Indiana 5,702 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CEN14LA075.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.