# Accident 20020425007599A: Cessna 421C, Tampa, FL, April 25, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 25, 2002, 17:40 local time
- Place: Tampa, FL
- Airport: Vandenberg Airport
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 28.0089° N, 82.3494° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.0089&lon=-82.3494&mi=10
- Aircraft: N237SM, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N237SM) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 421C (registry code 2076016, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-421c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental GTSI0-520-F-K (registry code 17031, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-gtsi0-520-f-k) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 421C
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB MIA02LA089](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA02LA089) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020425007599A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(.19) ON APRIL 25, 2002, ABOUT 1740 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, A CESSNA 421C, N237SM, REGISTERED TO MBA GRAPHICS OF TAMPA, STRUCK THE GROUND AFTER LANDING WITH THE LEFT MAIN GEAR UP AT VANDENBERG AIRPORT, TAMPA, FLORIDA. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME. NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED FOR THE 14 CFR PART 91 PERSONAL FLIGHT. THE AIRPLANE WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THE COMMERCIAL-RATED PILOT REPORTED NO INJURIES. THE FLIGHT HAD DEPARTED FROM THE SAME AIRPORT ABOUT 1600. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT AND WITNESSES THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR WOULD NOT EXTEND. THE PILOT FLEW OVER THE AIRPORT FOR ABOUT 1 1/2 HOURS TO BURN FUEL. HE LANDED ON THE GRASS NEXT TO THE PAVED RUNWAY, TOUCHING DOWN ON THE NOSE AND RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEARS. THE AIRPLANE SETTLED ON THE LEFT WING, TURNED LEFT ONTO THE PAVED RUNWAY AND CAME TO REST 180 DEGREES OPPOSITE THE DIRECTION OF TOUCHDOWN. (-23) ON APRIL 25, 2002, AT 1741 LOCAL TIME, A CESSNA 421, N237SM, REGISTERED TO MBA GRAPHICS OF TAMPA, INC. LANDED WITH A BROKEN LEFT LANDING GEAR TRUNNION AT VANDENBURG AIRPORT (X16), TAMPA, FLORIDA, WHILE ON A PLEASURE FLIGHT. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME AND A VFR FLIGH                     T PLAN WAS NOT FILED. THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED AND THE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT VANDENBURG AIRPORT (X16), TAMPA, FLORIDA AT 1725 LOCAL TIME.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB MIA02LA089](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA02LA089), Apr 25, 2002: Cessna 421C (N237SM), Tampa, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: the fracture of the landing gear upper barrel due to fatigue cracking, caused by improper machining after the barrel was assembled during the manufacturing process, resulting in damage to the…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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