3 Sep 2017: CESSNA 680 NO SERIES — NETJETS AVIATION INC — Wilmington, DE

No fatalitiesWilmington, DE, United States

A passenger sustained a broken ankle after slipping on the air stairs of a business jet while exiting the aircraft.

What happened

On September 3, 2017, a Cessna 680, registration N378QS, was parked at the ramp in Wilmington, Delaware, following a landing. After the aircraft had arrived, the pilot in command exited the flight deck to open the main cabin door. Upon opening the door, the pilot found a lead passenger waiting to exit the aircraft. Because the pilot could not exit the aircraft ahead of the passenger, the passenger began descending the air stairs first. During the descent, the passenger's foot slipped, causing her to land on her knees. She was able to maintain her balance by grabbing the hand rails.

The passenger sustained one serious injury, specifically a broken ankle, as confirmed by a subsequent medical examination.

Probable cause

The passenger's accidental slip while descending the aircraft's air stairs during the deplaning process.

Contributing factors

Passenger