# NTSB ATL85LA262: Cessna 404, N255CS, Huntington, WV, August 28, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 28, 1985, 04:56 local (08:56 UTC)
- Place: Huntington, WV
- Coordinates: 38.309577, -82.490219 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.3096&lon=-82.4902&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 6865
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL85LA262
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/6865/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL85LA262

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - light condition - night (contributing factor)
  - visual/aural perception, pilot in command (cause)
- Main gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear,main gear - overload (contributing factor)

## Analysis

SEVERAL MEN WHO WERE IN A BUILDING AT THE AIRPORT REPORTED THAT THEY COULD HEAR THE AIRCRAFT ON THE APPROACH AND THEN A LOUD NOISE. THEY COULD NOT SEE THE RUNWAY OR THE AIRCRAFT DUE TO THE FOG. THEY GOT IN THE FIRE AND RESCUE VEHICLES AND HAD A HARD TIME FINDING THE PLANE. THE PILOT WAS UNINJURED BUT THE AIRCRAFT HAD A BROKEN RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR AND OTHER DAMAGE THAT LEAD THE OPERATORS MAINTENANCE DIRECTOR TOSTATE THAT THE AIRCRAFT HAD A HARD LANDING. THE PILOT STATEDTHAT HE COULD SEE THE RUNWAY FROM 15 MILES OUT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N255CS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N255CS-2012-11-27), registration cancelled 2012-11-27, S/N 404-0019, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 404
- Registry model: [Cessna 404](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-404) (registry code 2075901) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental GTSI0-520-F-K](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-gtsi0-520-f-k) (registry code 17031, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 404019
- Airframe hours: 7183
- Engines: CONTINENTAL GTSIO520M 375 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Acme Flight Service,Inc.
- Registered owner: Gregory D. Smith
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: IND, INDIANAPOLIS, IN
- Destination: HTS
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: HTS, Tri-State, runway 12, 6,509 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 25; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 2,146 total, 810 in this make and model, 1,816 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Dawn
- Wind: 130° at 4 knots
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: HTS

## 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 19850828043809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850828043809A), Aug 28, 1985: Cessna 404CESSNA, Huntington, WV, Substantial damage. Misjudged height to runway because of low fog coverage and night landing. Sheared landing gear on a hard landing.

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.

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