Cessna 525B accident near Gulf Of Mexico, GM, March 30, 2023
On March 30, 2023 at about 6:15 pm local time, a 2005 Cessna 525B, registered N869AC, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (descent) near Gulf Of Mexico, GM. It was an executive or corporate flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The separation of the left wing extension and winglet for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 30, 2023 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Gulf Of Mexico, GM · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 525B, built 2005 · all 525Bs on the register
- Registration
- N869AC · registry record · serial 525B0001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Executive or corporate flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The business jet was equipped with wing extensions (via supplemental type certificate) that included winglets and wing extension-mounted aerodynamic control surfaces that automatically deployed to counteract measured structural loads. Before the airplane’s descent from flight level (FL) 310, the weather was clear with no turbulence. When the airplane was descending through FL 300 for FL 270, the pilot felt “two jolts of sudden turbulence” that he described as a negative G followed by a significant positive G twice in the span of about 1 second. The pilot noted that the airplane was yawing, and he subsequently observed that the left winglet had separated, resulting in substantial damage to the airplane. He declared an emergency and landed without further incident at a nearby airport. Review of automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast and GPS revealed that, during the airplane’s descent, its airspeed was slightly outside the airplane manufacturer’s maximum operating speed (VMO/MMO) performance envelope. At the time of winglet separation, the airplane was descending about 5,300 ft per minute at 275 knots calibrated airspeed. Eleven days after the accident, the separated winglet was recovered from the Gulf of Mexico; however, the section of the left wing extension that included the aerodynamic control surface was not recovered. Metallurgical examination of the recovered components revealed overstress features and no evidence of fatigue. Additionally, systems testing of the aerodynamic control surface control units, the system computer, and the enhanced ground proximity warning system revealed no anomalies. Because the aerodynamic control surface on the left wing extension was not recovered, the reason for the left wing extension and winglet separation could not be determined.
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
- Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,670 hours in all; 949 in this make and model; 147 in the last 90 days; 69 in the last 30 days; 4,953 as pilot in command; 414 on instruments
- Last flight review: January 11, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,487 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, February 21, 2023; 58 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 14,070 lb
- Seats: 9
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Williams FJ 44 SERIES (turbofan); 4,487 hours total
- Engine 3: Williams FJ 44 SERIES (turbofan); 4,487 hours total
- Operator: Allegis Corp
The flight
- Departed from: ARG Walnut Ridge AR at 9:47 pm
- Destination: FMY Fort Myers FL
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from PIE, 25 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KPIE 302153Z 01003KT 10SM CLR 28/14 A3012 RMK AO2 SLP201 T02830139
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
18 documents, released by the NTSB on April 1, 2024. 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.
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.