Cessna 680 accident near Wilmington, Delaware, September 3, 2017
On September 3, 2017 at about 10:04 pm local time, a 2006 Cessna 680, registered N378QS, was involved in an accident during standing near Wilmington, Delaware (New Castle airport). It was a personal flight under fractional-ownership rules (Part 91 subpart K). 1 person was seriously injured; 3 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The passenger’s inadvertent slip on the airplane's air stairs during deplaning, which resulted in a broken ankle.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 3, 2017 · about 10:04 pm local time
- Place
- Wilmington, Delaware · New Castle · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 680 NO SERIES, built 2006 · all 680s on the register
- Registration
- N378QS · no longer on the register · serial 680-0103
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Personal flight · fractional-ownership rules (Part 91 subpart K)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The director of aviation safety for the operator reported that, after landing, while parked at the ramp, the pilot-in-command exited the flight deck to open the cabin door. He added that the pilot "found the lead passenger standing in front of the main cabin door waiting to exit the aircraft." He further added that "…[the pilot] was able to open the door from this position, but did not have room to exit the aircraft ahead of the passenger," and as the passenger started down the airplane's air stairs, her foot slipped, she landed on her knees, and she caught her balance by grabbing onto the hand rails. A subsequent medical examination revealed that the passenger had broken her ankle. The director of aviation safety reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane 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
- Ground handling event during standing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Miscellaneous › (general) › (general) › Passenger
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,180 hours in all; 4,275 in this make and model; 62 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 6,485 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 16, 2017
- 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: 6,661 hours in all; 3,868 in this make and model; 107 in the last 90 days; 55 in the last 30 days; 3,420 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 17, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: unk
- Injury: serious injuries
Passenger
- Seat: unk
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,410.1 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, May 21, 2017
- Maximum gross weight: 30,300 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: P&W Canada PW-306C (turbofan); 8,823 hours total
- Engine 2: P&W Canada PW-306C (turbofan); 9,161 hours total
- Operator: Netjets Aviation INC
The flight
- Departed from: JST Johnstown PA at 10:00 pm
- Destination: ILG Wilmington DE
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 9:51 pm from KILG
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number GAA17CA520.