Cessna 560XL accident near Salt Lake City, Utah, September 3, 2021
On September 3, 2021 at about 8:37 pm local time, a 2000 Cessna 560XL, registered N827JS, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (IFR final approach) near Salt Lake City, Utah (Salt Lake City International A airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 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 airplane’s impact with birds during approach.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 3, 2021 · about 8:37 pm local time
- Place
- Salt Lake City, Utah · Salt Lake City International A · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 560XL, built 2000 · all 560XLs on the register
- Registration
- N827JS · no longer on the register · serial 560-5116
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The captain and co-pilot reported that, about 1 nm from the final approach fix and about 4,000 ft above the ground, the airplane shuddered. During this time the co-pilot heard multiple loud thuds and realized they had collided with a flock of birds. The flight crew did not detect any unusual flight characteristics for the remainder of the flight and landed without further incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the inboard leading edge of the left wing. The flight crew reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions 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
- Birdstrike during approach (IFR final 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 single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,076 hours in all; 528 in this make and model; 140 in the last 90 days; 33 in the last 30 days; 2,798 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 6, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 2,896 hours in all; 241 in this make and model; 139 in the last 90 days; 42 in the last 30 days; 1,702 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 24, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,659.4 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, August 23, 2021; 248 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 20,400 lb
- Seats: 9
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Pratt & Whitney PW545A (turbofan); 10,414 hours total
- Engine 2: Pratt & Whitney PW545A (turbofan); 10,428 hours total
- Operator: Exclusive Jets LLC
The flight
- Departed from: LAS Las Vegas NV
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 35, 9,596 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 8,500 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.08 inHg
- Observation at 2:54 pm from KSLC, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KSLC 032054Z 35011KT 10SM FEW085 27/05 A3008 RMK AO2 SLP131 TCU DSNT E AND SE FU ALFT T02670050 56007=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on October 6, 2021. 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, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Accident Photograph | PDF, 1 page | 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.