# NTSB CEN12CA644: Cessna 421C, N5534G, Kenedy, TX, September 11, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 11, 2012, 15:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Kenedy, TX - Coordinates: 28.824722, -97.865554 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.8247&lon=-97.8656&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 19, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 85089 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12CA644 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/85089/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85089 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12CA644 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent collapse of the landing gear. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 421C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=2076016), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 421C, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=2076016), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/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 421C, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2076016), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Cessna 421C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2076016), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Cessna 421C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2076016), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 421C, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2076016), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot, who had purchased the airplane the day before the accident, was on a cross-country flight with three other occupants. While landing at an airport, the airplane landed hard and collapsed the landing gear; the fuselage sustained substantial damage. The pilot did not report any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot, who had purchased the airplane the day prior to the accident, was on a cross-country flight with three other occupants. While landing at an airport, the airplane landed hard and collapsed the landing gear. A responding Federal Aviation Administration inspector found the airplane off the runway’s prepared surface and confirmed substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot did not report any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5534G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5534G-2013-08-05), registration cancelled 2013-08-05, S/N 421C0247 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 421C - Registry model: [Cessna 421C](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-421c) (registry code 2076016) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 421C0247 - Engines: Continental GTSIO-520 reciprocating; Continental GTSIO-520 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: KGDJ, Granbury, TX - Destination: 2R9, Kenedy, TX - Airport: 2R9, Karnes County Airport, runway 16, 3,218 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 25; injuries: none; private, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 16, 2012; flight hours: 594 total, 4 in this make and model, 4 in the last 90 days - Flight instructor; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: right ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 7 knots, gusting 17 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 95 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: KBEA, 28 nm away ## 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 20120911018859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120911018859A), Sep 11, 2012: Cessna 421C, Kennedy, TX, Substantial damage. After hard landing left gear departed from aircraft at 2R9. ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 1, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85089. 5.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 584 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40378918&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Memo (item 2, .PDF, 142 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40378919&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memo-Master.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 3, .PDF, 78 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40378920&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Photo: Accident airplane (FAA photo) (item 4, .PDF, 4.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40378923&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%3A%20%20Accident%20airplane%20%20%20%20%20%20%20(FAA%20photo)-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.