# Accident 20020915037659A: Cessna 421C, Ithaca, NY, September 15, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 15, 2002, 17:47 local time
- Place: Ithaca, NY
- Airport: Tompkins County
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Roll-Out (Fixed Wing)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 42.4911° N, 76.4586° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4911&lon=-76.4586&mi=10
- Aircraft: N23RL, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N23RL) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 421C (registry code 2076016, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-421c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental GTSIO-520 series (registry code 17039, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-gtsio-520-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 421C
- People aboard: 4
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 513 total, 40 in this make and model, 80 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC02LA190](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC02LA190) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020915037659A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2002 AT 1947 EDT AT THE TOMPKINS COUNTY AIRPORT (ITH), ITHACA, NY, A CE-421-C AIRCRAFT, N23RL, PILOTED BY ROD LACHE, SLID OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF RUNWAY 32 DURING LANDING. THE RIGHT PILOT SEAT WAS OCCUPIED BY RICHARD GREENE, A RATED PILOT. SKID MARKS IN THE GRASS INDICATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT TURNED LEFT AND SKIDDED SIDEWAYS FOR 1370' PARALLEL TO RUNWAY 32. SEVERAL RUNWAY LIGHTS AND A TAXIWAY IDENTIFICATION SIGN WERE DESTROYED. THE LEFT MAIN GEAR SEPARATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT AND IMPACTED THE LEFT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER AND THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED FOR THE PILOT AND THREE PASSENGERS. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE WEATHER WAS REPORTED AS "WIND VARIABLE AT 6 KNOTS, VISIBILITY 1 TO 2 MILES, CLOUDS 1000' SCATTERED, 2000' BROKEN". THE TOWER ADVISED THE PLOT OF HEAVY RAIN AT THE AIRPORT. THERE WAS STANDING WATER ON ALL SURFACES. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ THIS ACCIDENT REPORT IS CONSIDERED CLOSED.

## 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 NYC02LA190](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC02LA190), Sep 15, 2002: Cessna 421 (N23RL), Ithaca, NY, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. A factor in the accident was the wet runway.

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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