# NTSB ANC08LA059: Cessna 560XL, N590AK, Port Heiden, AK, April 30, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 30, 2008, 09:45 local (17:45 UTC) - Place: Port Heiden, AK - Coordinates: 56.95, -158 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=56.9500&lon=-158.0000&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 6 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 11, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Anchorage FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 67914 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC08LA059 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67914/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=67914 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC08LA059 ## Probable cause The flying pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while landing in a crosswind. A factor contributing to the accident was a crosswind. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 560XL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=2076702), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) - [Flight control system: rudder control system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022720): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 560XL, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022720/cases.md?model=2076702), [All aircraft, 93 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022720/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 560XL, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2076702), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 560XL, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2076702), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Cessna 560XL, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2076702), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flightcrew was landing a twin-engine turbofan airplane on Runway 23, a 5,000-foot long, by 100-foot wide, gravel runway, which required a correction for right crosswind. The captain said that during touchdown he inadvertently applied a small amount of left rudder pedal input to correct for a right crosswind as the nose wheel touched down. The airplane veered sharply to the left and went off the left side of the runway. The left main landing gear collapsed, and the left wing struck the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. The captain reported that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. At the time of the accident, winds were reported to be 320 degrees, at 12 knots. The captain noted that the accident might have been prevented if the airplane had a nose wheel disconnect option. ## Factual narrative On April 30, 2008, about 0945 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna Citation 560XL airplane, N590AK, sustained substantial damage while landing at the Port Heiden Airport, Port Heiden, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by AT&T Alascom, Anchorage, Alaska, as an instrument flight rules (IFR) corporate flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. Of the six people aboard, there were no injuries to the two airline transport certificated pilots, or the four passengers. The flight originated at the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, Anchorage, Alaska, about 0820, and an instrument flight plan had been filed. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on April 30, the captain noted that the purpose of the flight was to transport a crew of telecommunications technicians to Port Heiden. He stated that his approach to runway 23 required a correction for a right crosswind, and that the initial touchdown on the 5,000-foot long by 100-foot wide gravel runway was uneventful. He said that as he lowered the nose of the airplane he continued to apply a small amount of left rudder pedal input to correct for the crosswind as the nose wheel touched down. As soon as the nose wheel touched the runway, the airplane veered sharply to the left, and went off the left side of the runway. The left main landing gear collapsed, and the left wing struck the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. The captain reported that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. At 0936, an automated weather observing system (AWOS) at Port Heiden was reporting, in part: Wind, 320 degrees at 12 knots; visibility, 10 statute miles; clouds and sky condition, 600 feet few; temperature, 30 degrees F; dew point, 28 degrees F; altimeter, 29.94 inHg. The Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) was removed from the airplane and sent to the NTSB vehicle recorder laboratory in Washington, DC. A Safety Board aerospace engineer reviewed the recorded data, and determined that the audio did not offer any additional information that had not already been obtained from the flightcrew. No CVR listening group was convened, and no CVR transcript was prepared. A summary of key events of the accident flight is included in the public docket for this accident. The accident airplane was equipped with a nose wheel-mounted gravel kit. In the recommendation part of his written report, the captain noted that the accident might have been prevented if the Citation XL was outfitted with a nose wheel disconnect option, similar to that on a Citation V. The captain stated, in part: "Without a nose wheel disconnect, slight rudder/aileron deflection moves the nose wheel slightly, as happens when landing with a crosswind. Even small nose wheel deflection is magnified when landing on gravel, causing uncommanded sharp turning forces." The Safety Board released the CVR to the owner on November 18, 2008. No parts or components of the airplane were retained by the Safety Board. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N590AK](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N590AK), registered now, S/N 560-5038, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 560XL - Registry model: [Cessna 560XL](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-560xl) (registry code 2076702) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PW545 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pw545-series) (registry code 52154, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 560-5038 - Airframe hours: 5069 - Engines: P&W Canada PW545 Series 3804 lbs thrust turbo fan; P&W Canada PW545 Series 3804 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Executive/Corporate, Part 91 - Operator: AT&T Alascom, affiliate of AT&T Management Service - Registered owner: Citation 560xl-5038 LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, April 3, 2008, 89 hours before - Departed: ANC, ANCHORAGE, AK - Destination: PTH, Port Heiden, AK - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: PAPH, Port Heiden, runway 23, 5,000 × 100 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 24, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 26,000 total, 42 in this make and model, 22,000 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Co-pilot; age 45; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 25, 2008; seat: right; flight hours: 6,823 total, 49 in this make and model, 3,525 as pilot in command, 75 in the last 90 days, 37 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: PAPH ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20080430836019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080430836019A), Apr 30, 2008: Cessna 560XL, Substantial damage. (-23) According to the pilot, the weather was clear with a 9-10 knot crosswind component from the north. Runway conditions were reported good with soft edges… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 9, 2008, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=67914. 805 KB in all. - Cockpit Voice Recorder 12 - Specialist's Factual Report (item 1, .PDF, 16 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40304575&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Cockpit%20Voice%20Recorder%2012%20-%20Specialist%27s%20Factual%20Report-Master.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 2, .PDF, 697 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40304156&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 (item 3, .PDF, 93 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40304157&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.15-Redacted.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.