Cessna 550
Aircraft Manufacturer: Cessna
Model: 550
About the Cessna 550
The Cessna 550 sits at about one in five on the peer-cohort safety percentile, where a higher percentile means a higher accident rate, so its accident rate falls below most comparable types in the same aircraft type, engine class, and seat-range cohort. Measured on its own exposure, the Cessna 550 records about 1.5 accidents per 1,000 aircraft-years over its FAA-registration history. Of 15 recorded accidents for the Cessna 550, 3 were fatal.
The Cessna 550 ranks 42nd by active fleet size within Cessna's lineup, and the model accounts for about 0.7% of Cessna's total active registered fleet. More than 500 of the type remain on the U.S. civil registry.
About 40% of all U.S. registry records ever held for the Cessna 550 have been deregistered. More than 300 airframes of the Cessna 550 have been removed from the registry.
The Cessna 550 has four airworthiness directives applying to the model, all four still active. The most recent AD applicable to the Cessna 550 is dated July 6, 2007.
Aircraft Details
| Manufacturer | Cessna |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer Serial Number | 2076604 |
| Model | 550 |
| Category | Land |
| Aircraft Type | Fixed wing multi engine |
| Weight | Class 2 (12,500 - 19,999 lbs gross take off weight) |
| Engine Type | Turbo-fan |
| Number of Engines | 2 engines |
| Number of Seats | 8 seats |
Share your captured photos of the Cessna 550, receive attribution and a link. Safety Analysis
Composition of NTSB accident records for this model in general-aviation operations (FAR Part 91 and 137), based on NTSB data as of May 1, 2026. It's a breakdown of recorded accidents rather than a safety rating, and types with significant non-GA operation (such as Part 135) may be under-represented.
Accidents are identity-confirmed against FAA registration records (two independent sources).
11 exact, 3 recovered, 1 provisional
MethodologyTotal recorded general-aviation accidents within the analyzed period.
3 fatal accidents.
20.0% of recorded accidents were fatal.
Active aircraft fleet size contributing to the exposure data.
10,229
Aircraft-years of FAA registration exposure (2008–present).
Within its peer cohort
Within this model's peer class (same aircraft type, engine class, and seat range), comparison of its share of recorded NTSB accidents to its share of FAA registration exposure (aircraft-years since 2008).
This is a share comparison, not flight-hours adjusted, so a model flown more per airframe than its peers will show an accident share above its exposure share even if its per-hour safety is average. Methodology →
Accidents by year
Recorded NTSB general-aviation accidents per calendar year, derived directly from the NTSB accident database. Each bar shows the accidents that occurred in that year. Methodology →
Phase of flight
Which phase of flight each accident occurred in, as coded by the NTSB. Most accidents happen in the phases where most flying time is concentrated, so this isn't a measure of which phase is most dangerous.
Finding category
Top-level NTSB cause category, from the coded investigation findings. An accident often has more than one finding, so totals here can exceed the recorded accident count.
Injury severity
NTSB classification of the worst injury in each accident: None, Minor, Serious, or Fatal. Each accident counts in exactly one severity.
Operating-rule mix (all parts): 091 (15)· NUSN (4)· UNK (3)· 135 (1)· PUBU (1)
Recorded Accidents
All 15 recorded NTSB general-aviation accidents for this model, most recent first.
| Date | Location | Tail | Damage | Highest injury | Phase of flight | Finding categories |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Statesville, NC | N257BW | Substantial | Fatal | Landing | unknown | |
| Odessa, TX | N689VP | Destroyed | Fatal | Takeoff | unknown | |
| Murrieta, CA | N819KR | Destroyed | Fatal | Approach | Personnel issues, Environmental issues | |
| Oklahoma City, OK | N550DW | Substantial | None | Landing | Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues | |
| McGregor, TX | N409ST | Substantial | None | Landing | Personnel issues, Aircraft | |
| Mesquite, NV | N320JT | Destroyed | Minor | Landing | Personnel issues | |
| Fargo, ND | N941JM | Substantial | Minor | Approach | Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues | |
| Salt Lake City, UT | N551BC | Substantial | None | Approach | Environmental issues | |
| Port Aransas, TX | N75WL | Substantial | None | Enroute | Environmental issues | |
| Sarasota, FL | N622PG | Substantial | Minor | Landing | Aircraft, Personnel issues | |
| Greenwood, SC | N6763L | Substantial | None | Landing | Environmental issues, Aircraft | |
| Manteo, NC | N262Y | Substantial | Minor | Landing | Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues | |
| Sellersburg, IN | N73HH | Substantial | None | Initial climb | Environmental issues | |
| Salt Lake City, UT | N44FR | Substantial | None | Landing | Not determined, Aircraft | |
| Wilmington, NC | N815MA | Substantial | None | Approach | Personnel issues, Environmental issues |
Airworthiness Directives
Composition of FAA airworthiness directives (ADs) that apply to this model, as of October 15, 2026. ADs are mandatory FAA-issued corrective actions for safety-of-flight issues. Pilots, owners, and operators should always verify against the current FAA AD listing before any maintenance or flight action. Methodology →
4 active · 4 total airworthiness directives issued against this model · most recent:
Directives by year
Count of airworthiness directives issued against this model per calendar year (publication date in the Federal Register). Includes both active and superseded directives. An active AD still applies; a superseded one was replaced by a later AD.
Recent directives
The most recent airworthiness directives applicable to this model, by effective date. A Superseded badge means a later AD has replaced this one; we still list the original so it isn't lost from the page.
| AD number | Effective date | Subject | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
2007-11-17 |
Airworthiness Directives; Cessna Model 500, 501, 550, 551, S550, 560, 560XL, and 750 Airplanes | Active | |
2006-06-03 |
Airworthiness Directives; Cessna Model 500, 501, 550, S550, 551, and 560 Airplanes | Active | |
2006-04-10 |
Airworthiness Directives; Cessna Model 500, 550, S550, 560, 560XL, and 750 Airplanes | Active | |
2004-09-05 |
Airworthiness Directives; Cessna Model 500, 501, 550, and 551 Airplanes | Active |