Probable cause
An in-flight collision with a bird during decent.
NTSB analysis
The pilot reported that while descending through a cloud layer, a crewmember saw a flock of birds and alerted the pilot. The pilot reported that he disconnected the autopilot and attempted to avoid the birds. The birds impacted the airplane which resulted in substantial damage to the left horizontal stabilizer. The crew made an uneventful landing following the bird strike
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN24LA054 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Nov 26, 2023
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Council Bluffs, Iowa
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cessna 560XL
- N-number
- N475CW
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 2000
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 135 (charter and commuter)
- Purpose of flight
- UNK
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.