Cessna 510 accident near Faribault, Minnesota, October 27, 2014
On October 27, 2014 at about 5:30 pm local time, a 2008 Cessna 510, registered N510PT, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (descent) near Faribault, Minnesota (Faribault Municipal Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
An inflight collision with a goose while descending to land at the destination airport.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 27, 2014 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Faribault, Minnesota · Faribault Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 510, built 2008 · all 510s on the register
- Registration
- N510PT · registry record · serial 510-0114
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot and four passengers were on a cross-country flight. When they were about 15 miles from their destination airport descending to land, the pilot saw a flock of geese. The pilot reported that he did not have time to avoid the birds and there was an impact. After the collision, the pilot made a normal approach and landing at the destination airport. An examination of the airplane revealed that a goose impacted the radome and bulkhead, resulting in substantial damage.
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
- Birdstrike during enroute (descent) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during enroute (descent)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Animal(s)/bird(s) › Ability to respond/compensate
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 14,200 hours in all; 860 in this make and model; 85 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 10,990 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,595.8 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, September 26, 2014
- Maximum gross weight: 8,664 lb
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: P&W Canada PW615F-A (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: P&W Canada PW615F-A (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: Poet LLC
The flight
- Departed from: KFSD Sioux Falls SD at 5:00 pm
- Destination: KFBL Faribault MN
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 12 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 5:30 pm from KFBL, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| 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.