CEN11LA273

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 414A · Aberdeen, SD · March 23, 2011

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
March 22, 2011, 20:30 local (Mar 23, 2011, 01:30 UTC)
Place
Aberdeen, SD
Injuries
4 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Takeoff
Aircraft
N4057CCessna 414A
Defining event
Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
Weather
Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
Status
Completed · report July 18, 2011
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Central Region
Parties
FAA Rapid City FSDO
FAA report
20110322004789A
Case key
78799

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

On this page

Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate compensation for gusty crosswinds during takeoff, which resulted in a loss of directional control.

Findings · 5

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

Performance/control parameters: directional controlAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintainedCessna 414A: 2 casesAll aircraft: 3,958 casesProbable cause
Action: incorrect action performancePersonnel issues › Action/decision · PilotCessna 414A: 2 casesAll aircraft: 1,386 casesProbable cause
Wind: crosswindEnvironmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcomeCessna 414A: 1 caseAll aircraft: 1,008 cases
Wind: gustsEnvironmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcomeCessna 414A: 1 caseAll aircraft: 1,199 cases
Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: snow/slush/ice covered surfaceEnvironmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcomeCessna 414A: 1 caseAll aircraft: 219 cases

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Analysis

The pilot reported that there was snow and ice on the runway. During takeoff, a strong crosswind gust forced the airplane to veer off the left side of the runway and the airplane struck runway lights. The pilot managed to maneuver the airplane back on the runway and he shut down the engines. A postaccident inspection of the airplane revealed substantial damage as a result of a puncture in the pressure vessel of the airplane. The pilot reported that there was no preimpact mechanical malfunction or failure of the airplane.

Factual narrative

On March 22, 2011, at 2030 central daylight time, a Cessna 414A, N4057C, sustained substantial damage when it veered off the left side of runway 31 (6,901 feet by 100 feet, concrete) during its takeoff roll at the Aberdeen Regional Airport (ABR), Aberdeen, South Dakota, and struck runway lights. The captain, first officer, and two passengers were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by Aberdeen Flying Service as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 nonscheduled domestic passenger flight. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and the flight was on an instrument flight rules flight plan. The airplane was en route to the Joe Foss Field Airport (FSD), Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The pilot reported that there was snow and ice on the runway. He reported that a strong crosswind gust forced the airplane to veer off the left side of the runway where the airplane struck runway lights. The pilot managed to get the airplane back on the runway and he shut down the engines. The airplane was towed back to the hangar with the passengers on board. The postaccident inspection of the airplane revealed substantial damage as a result of a puncture in the pressure vessel of the airplane. The pilot reported that there was no mechanical malfunction or failure of the airplane. At 1953, the surface weather observation at ABR was: Wind 050 degrees at 14 knots; visibility 1 1/2 miles; overcast 400 feet; light snow; temperature 1 degrees Celsius; dew point 0 degrees Celsius; altimeter 29.59 inches of mercury.

Aircraft

Registration
N4057C
Reported as
Cessna 414A
Category
Airplane
Serial number
414A0848
Airframe hours
7,316
Engines
Cont Motor TSIO-520 SER, 335 horsepower, reciprocatingCont Motor TSIO-520 SER, 335 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Part 135
Operator
Aberdeen Flying Service
Registered owner
Aberdeen Flying Service
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Continuous airworthiness · February 16, 2011
Departed
ABR · Aberdeen, SD
Destination
FSD · Sioux Falls, SD
Flight plan
IFR
Airport
ABR · Aberdeen Regional Airport, runway 31, 6,901 × 100 ft, concrete

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
25
Injuries
None
Certificate
Commercial
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
December 19, 2010
Seat
Left
Flight hours
2,136 total · 170 in this make and model · 1,900 as pilot in command · 125 in the last 90 days · 54 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
Wind
50° at 14 knots
Visibility
2 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
400 ft overcast
Temperature
34 °F, dew point 32 °F
Altimeter
29.59 inHg
Observed at
ABR

Docket · 1

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 20, 2011, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.3 MB in all.

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.