Cessna 560XL accident near Reading, Pennsylvania, July 21, 2021
On July 21, 2021 at about 8:04 pm local time, a 2001 Cessna 560XL, registered N46CF, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Reading, Pennsylvania (Reading Rgnl/Carl A Spaatz Fld airport). It was an executive or corporate flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The captain’s improper decision to continue an unstabilized approach despite several go-around calls by the pilot monitoring, which resulted in a runway excursion and substantial damage to the pressure vessel.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 21, 2021 · about 8:04 pm local time
- Place
- Reading, Pennsylvania · Reading Rgnl/Carl A Spaatz Fld · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 560XL, built 2001 · all 560XLs on the register
- Registration
- N46CF · no longer on the register · serial 560-5218
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Executive or corporate flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight was being operated as a corporate flight with a two-person crew. The captain was the pilot flying (PF) and stated that while on final approach, the airplane was “eating up a lot of runway” before it settled on the runway. He applied full brakes and activated the thrust reversers, but it was not enough to stop the airplane and it subsequently entered the Engineered Material Arresting System (EMAS), which resulted in substantial damage to the pressure vessel. He admitted that he became fixated on landing, failed to take proper remedial actions, and thought he could salvage the approach despite the pilot monitoring’s (PM) repeated go-around commands. The PM stated that about 2 nautical miles from the runway threshold, the airplane’s descent rate increased, which activated the ground proximity warning “Terrain, Pull Up.” The PM commanded a “go-around” which was not acknowledged by the PF who continued the approach. When the airplane was on a 1-mile final, the PM called for a “go-around” a second time, followed by third as they crossed the runway threshold about 30 to 40 knots too fast. The captain reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures 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
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Miscellaneous/other during approach
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Personality/attitude › Self confidence › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,424 hours in all; 412 in this make and model; 69 in the last 90 days; 43 in the last 30 days; 4,011 as pilot in command; 1,650 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 7, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,929 hours in all; 396 in this make and model; 75 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: November 15, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,663 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 12, 2021
- Maximum gross weight: 20,200 lb
- Seats: 11
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Pratt & Whitney Canada PW545A (turbofan); 5,574 hours total
- Engine 2: Pratt & Whitney Canada PW545A (turbofan); 5,574 hours total
- Operator: Pv Transport INC
The flight
- Departed from: OEB Coldwater MI at 7:00 pm
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 13/3, 6,350 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 1,800 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observation at 3:54 pm from RDG
Weather report (METAR): KRDG 211954Z 20005KT 10SM FEW018 SCT110 24/21 A2989 RMK AO2 RAE1856 SLP123 P0000 T02440211 $
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
7 documents, released by the NTSB on May 5, 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 | Record of Conversation_pilot Flying & Pilot Monitoring | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Memo for Record_ First Officer's Email Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Memorandum for Record_operator's Damage Assessment | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Airport Overview and Emas Closeup | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Operator's Stabilized Approach Policy, Procedures and Training_excerpts | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Photo Array_airplane Damage and Accident Site | PDF, 4 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.