# NTSB CEN12CA104: Cessna 421B, N421CE, Pampa, TX, December 9, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 9, 2011, 15:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Pampa, TX - Coordinates: 35.61861, -100.993888 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.6186&lon=-100.9939&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 6, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - NTSB case key (mKey): 82506 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12CA104 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/82506/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82506 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12CA104 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate aircraft control during landing, which resulted in a hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot; cases with it: [Cessna 421B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2076014), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 421B, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2076014), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: heading/course](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062047): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 421B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062047/cases.md?model=2076014), [All aircraft, 82 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062047/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-IFR final approach: Structural icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/210); cases with it: [Cessna 421B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/210/sequence.md?model=2076014), [All aircraft, 102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/210/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing area overshoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380); cases with it: [Cessna 421B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md?model=2076014), [All aircraft, 400 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md) - [Landing: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270); cases with it: [Cessna 421B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md?model=2076014), [All aircraft, 346 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md) - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 421B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2076014), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was flying a global positioning system approach in instrument meteorological conditions with icing present. The pilot stated that the airplane broke out of the weather about 300 feet above the ground and 300 feet right of the runway, with 1/8- to 1/4-inch of accumulated ice on the wings. The pilot made a correction to the left and overshot the runway, landing hard in the grass to the left of the runway. The airplane traveled about 1,000 feet in the grass before re-entering the runway. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the rear spar of the right wing was bent. The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane. ## Factual narrative The pilot was flying a global positioning system approach to landing in instrument meteorological conditions with icing present. The pilot stated that the airplane broke out of the weather about 300 feet above the ground and 300 feet right of the runway, with 1/8 to 1/4 inch of ice accumulated on the wings. The pilot made a correction to land and overshot the runway, landing hard in the grass. The airplane traveled about 1,000 feet in the grass before re-entering the runway. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed the rear spar of the right wing was bent. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N421CE](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N421CE-2013-07-15), registration cancelled 2013-07-15, S/N 421B0008, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 421B - Registry model: [Cessna 421B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-421b) (registry code 2076014) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental GTSIO-520-C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-gtsio-520-c) (registry code 17035, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 421B0008 - Engines: CONT MOTOR GTSIO-520-C 340 horsepower reciprocating; CONT MOTOR GTSIO-520-C 340 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Reinhart Paul Eric - Registered owner: Reinhart Paul Eric - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: CDS, Childress, TX - Destination: PPA, Pampa, TX - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: PPA, Perry Lefors Field Airport, runway 17, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 6, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 4,347 total, 1,800 in this make and model, 59 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 2 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 200 ft overcast - Temperature: 28 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.37 inHg - Observed at: PPA ## 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 20111209027819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20111209027819A), Dec 9, 2011: Cessna 421B, Pampa, TX, Substantial damage. At approximately 3PM CST, on December 9, 2011, the pilot of N421CE executed a GPS approach to runway 17 at Perry Lefors Field Airport (kppa) in Pampa, Texas.… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 21, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82506. 1.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 641 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40359941&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (item 2, .PDF, 335 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40359942&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 3, .PDF, 54 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40359943&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.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.