# NTSB CEN12LA061: Cessna 401A, N531MH, Gladewater, TX, November 12, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 12, 2011, 16:35 local (22:35 UTC) - Place: Gladewater, TX - Coordinates: 32.523887, -94.969718 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.5239&lon=-94.9697&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 4 minor - Status: Completed, report November 7, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 82284 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12LA061 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/82284/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82284 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA061 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during the landing and attempted go-around in a gusty crosswind. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incomplete action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041040): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 401A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041040/cases.md?model=207590D), [All aircraft, 105 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041040/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 401A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=207590D), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 401A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=207590D), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 401A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=207590D), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Cessna 401A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=207590D), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) ## Analysis While preparing to enter the traffic pattern, the pilot checked the wind on his weather-equipped global positioning system and also heard a wind update on the radio for the nearest weather facility. On the basis of the information obtained, the pilot understood that the current wind was from 170 degrees at 20 to 25 knots. He entered the traffic pattern in a left downwind for runway 14 and began to slow the airplane for landing. The pilot stated that when the airplane was on short final at an airspeed of about 120 knots, a gusting crosswind pushed it right of the runway centerline. The airplane began to descend rapidly, and the pilot added full power in an attempt to go around. However, the airplane rolled to the right, and the airplane crashed on the right side of the runway. No preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures were found that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On November 12, 2011, about 1635 central standard time, a Cessna 401A, N531MH, was substantially damaged while landing at the Gladewater Municipal Airport (07F), Gladewater, Texas. The private pilot and three passengers received minor injuries, and the forth passenger was seriously injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The cross-country flight originated from the Natchitoches Regional Airport (IER), Natchitoches, Louisiana, around 1550. While preparing to enter the traffic pattern at 1,800 feet above ground level, the pilot checked the wind on his Garmin 696 with NEXRAD and also heard a wind update on the radio for the nearest weather facility. The current wind was understood to be from 170 degrees between 20 and 25 knots. The pilot entered the pattern in a left downwind for runway 14 and began to slow the airplane down. The pilot stated he was on short final and at an airspeed of about 120 knots when a gusting crosswind pushed the airplane 30 feet right of the runway centerline and began to descend very quickly. The pilot decided to perform a go-around maneuver and added full engine power. As engine power was added, the twin-engine airplane began to roll to the right. The pilot then elected to reduce engine power and land. The airplane impacted and exited the runway before coming to rest in an upright position. Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board, the Federal Aviation Administration, Cessna Aircraft Co., and Continental Motors, Inc. performed a post accident examination of the airplane and the engines. Examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the fuselage, empennage, wings, and landing gear. No preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures were found that would have precluded normal operation. At 1553, the aviation routine weather report at East Texas Regional Airport in Longview, Texas, about 16 nautical miles southeast of the accident location was: wind 170 degrees and 16 knots gusting to 23 knots; visibility 10sm; few clouds at 4,900 feet above ground level; temperature 23 degrees Celsius and dew point 13 degrees Celsius; altimeter 29.92 inches of mercury. At 1530, the weather station reported a peak wind gust of 27 knots from 190 degrees. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N531MH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N531MH-2015-05-13), registration cancelled 2015-05-13, S/N 401A0097, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 401A - Registry model: [Cessna 401A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-401a) (registry code 207590D) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 401A0097 - Engines: CONT MOTOR IO 520 SERIES 300 horsepower reciprocating; CONT MOTOR IO 520 SERIES 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 26, 2011 - Departed: IER, Natchitoches, LA - Destination: 07F, Gladewater, TX - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: 07F, Gladewater Municipal Airport, runway 14, 3,301 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 6, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 1,241 total, 468 in this make and model, 1,092 as pilot in command, 19 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 16 knots, gusting 23 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Observed at: GGG, 16 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 20111112027299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20111112027299A), Nov 12, 2011: Cessna 401A, Gladewater, TX, Substantial damage. On November 12, 2011 approximately 2630 central standard time, a Cessna 401, N531HM, registered to and operated by [privacy data omitted] was destroyed during… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 5, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82284. 6.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 650 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40375830&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Correspondence - Phone call with pilot (item 2, .PDF, 59 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40375865&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Correspondence%20-%20Phone%20call%20with%20pilot-Master.PDF - Weather Reports and Records - Weather Summary (item 3, .PDF, 254 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40375866&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records%20-%20Weather%20Summary-Master.PDF - Photo 1 - Accident airplane in a field (item 4, .PDF, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40375867&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Accident%20airplane%20in%20a%20field-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - Accident plane and path (item 5, .PDF, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40375874&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Accident%20plane%20and%20path-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.