Textron Aviation INC 525 accident near Dubuque, Iowa, December 21, 2021
On December 21, 2021, a 2017 Textron Aviation INC 525, registered N287CB, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach near Dubuque, Iowa. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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
An inflight collision with a flock of geese that resulted in substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 21, 2021
- Place
- Dubuque, Iowa · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Textron Aviation INC 525, built 2017
- Registration
- N287CB · registry record · serial 525-0942
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that while on a visual approach, the airplane impacted a flock of geese, which resulted in substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer. He stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
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 approach defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Animal(s)/bird(s) › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,856 hours in all; 1,612 in this make and model; 68 in the last 90 days; 34 in the last 30 days; 5,269 as pilot in command; 585 on instruments
- Last flight review: December 1, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,127 hours in all; 1,279 in this make and model; 76 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 1,184 as pilot in command; 80 on instruments
- Last flight review: December 10, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,795.3 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme; 21.9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 10,700 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Williams FJ44-1AP-21 (turbofan); 1,795 hours total
- Engine 2: Williams FJ44-1AP-21 (turbofan); 1,795 hours total
- Operator: Cottingham & Butler Insurance Services INC
The flight
- Departed from: KCAE Columbia SC at 10:35 pm
- Destination: KDBQ Dubuque IA
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 310° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observation at 6:00 pm from KDBK, 5 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
2 documents, released by the NTSB on January 18, 2022. 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/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.