Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 560XL near Porterville, CA — 2026-09-01

Investigation ongoingWPR26LA326
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Date
2026-09-01
Location
Porterville, CA, USA
Airport
PTV
Aircraft
CESSNA 560XL
Registration
N562JL
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

NTSB has not published a probable cause for this accident yet. Preliminary reports describe what happened; the cause is determined later, often 12–24 months after the event.

NTSB narrative

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.

Preliminary NTSB coding

  • Runway excursion · Landing
  • Runway excursion · Landing-landing roll
View NTSB preliminary report

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