Cessna 560XL N562JL accident near Porterville, California

Preliminary information

On September 1, 2026, about 1142 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 560XL airplane, N562JL, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Porterville, California. The two pilots sustained minor injuries, and the four passengers were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 business flight.

A review of ADS-B data provided by the FAA showed that the airplane departed Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport (OAK), Oakland, California, about 1106, and flew on a southeast track to its planned destination of Porterville Municipal Airport (PTV) Porterville, California. The data showed that the airplane reached a maximum cruise altitude of about 25,000 ft mean sea level (msl). The airplane lined up for final approach to runway 12. On about a 1 nautical mile final approach, the airplane’s altitude was about 1,000 ft msl and the groundspeed was about 245 knots. The last data point, about 1,800 ft from the runway threshold, showed the airplane about 600 ft msl, with a groundspeed of about 234 knots.

According to the pilot, about 30 miles from the destination, the Los Angeles Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) controller cleared them to descend to 16,000 ft msl. The controller then cleared them to descend to 9,000 ft msl followed by a descent to 6,000 ft msl. About 10 miles from PTV, they were about 5,000 ft msl and 250 knots. The controller then advised them of the airport’s location and the pilot cancelled his instrument flight rules clearance. On the visual straight in approach, the airplane was estimated to cross the runway threshold between 225-250 knots and floated about a third to halfway down the runway. Upon touchdown, the captain applied heavy braking. The airplane continued down the 5,960 ft long runway and then exited the end of the runway, breached a fence, crossed two roads, and came to rest in a field. The pilots and passengers safely egressed though the airplane’s main door.

Postaccident examination revealed that the airplane’s wings sustained substantial damage. The airplane wreckage was recovered to a secure facility.

Text from the NTSB; a preliminary report can change and names no cause. Open the NTSB docket for WPR26LA326 for the full record.