Cessna 560 accident near Telluride, Colorado, September 1, 2008
On September 1, 2008 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Cessna 560, registered N839QS, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Telluride, Colorado (Telluride Regional Airport). It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain control during landing. A factor was the reported wind shear.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 1, 2008 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Telluride, Colorado · Telluride Regional Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 560 · all 560s on the register
- Registration
- N839QS · registry record · serial 560-0690
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
On final approach to land, the twin-jet airplane encountered an increasing headwind accompanied by a "Caution Wind shear" audio alert, while approximately 50 feet above ground level. The airplane landed hard and bounced several times before departing the left side of the runway. The airplane came to rest in an upright position and the pilot and copilot were able to exit unassisted. The forward pressure bulkhead, fuselage, and left aileron sustained structural damage during the accident. In addition, the nose wheel assembly was found separated from the fuselage. An examination of the nose wheel assembly revealed that the fracture was consistent with an overload failure. No anomalies were reported with the airplane's flight controls or engines.
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
- Windshear or thunderstorm during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll)
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Windshear › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: gyroplane
- Flight time: 14,763 hours in all; 448 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 19 in the last 30 days; 14,000 as pilot in command; 7,000 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,844 hours in all; 429 in this make and model; 39 in the last 90 days; 21 in the last 30 days; 2,900 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 17, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,741 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, August 5, 2008
- Seats: 11
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: P&W Canada PW535A (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: P&W Canada PW535A (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: Netjets Aviation, Inc
The flight
- Departed from: KSGR Houston TX at 4:54 pm
- Destination: KTEX Tellurdie CO
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 09, 6,870 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 6 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 8,500 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
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.