# NTSB CEN14CA295: Cessna 414, N1671T, Pleasanton, TX, June 16, 2014

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: June 16, 2014, 18:45 local (23:45 UTC)
- Place: Pleasanton, TX
- Coordinates: 28.959333, -98.489418 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.9593&lon=-98.4894&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: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 5 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 14, 2014
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- NTSB case key (mKey): 89458
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN14CA295
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89458/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89458
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14CA295

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during an aborted landing due to an encounter with a tailwind.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 414, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2075908), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 414, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=2075908), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 414, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=2075908), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/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 414, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2075908), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot obtained the airport's weather information prior to landing, which included wind from 250 degrees at 9 knots gusting to 20 knots. He realized that he would land with a 90 degree crosswind on either runway and elected to land on the runway 34. When the airplane was on short final, the pilot realized the wind had shifted to a direct tailwind and he immediately executed a go-around. The pilot established a 500 feet per minute climb at an airspeed of 120 knots. When the airplane was about 200-feet-above the ground, the airplane began to descend and the airspeed began to decrease. The pilot was unable to arrest the descent and lowered the airplane's nose in an attempt to gain airspeed, but the airplane stalled and rolled left The pilot leveled the wings and the airplane impacted the ground in a level attitude, resulting in substantial damage to the airplane's fuselage and right wing. Wind reported five minutes after the accident was from 130 degrees at 14 knots gusting to 19 knots. The pilot reported there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane or engines that would have precluded normal operation prior to the accident.

## Factual narrative

The pilot obtained the airport's weather information prior to landing, which included wind from 250 degrees at 9 knots gusting to 20 knots. He realized that he would land with a 90 degree crosswind on either runway and elected to land on the runway 34. When the airplane was on short final, the pilot realized the wind had shifted to a direct tailwind and he immediately executed a go-around. The pilot established a 500 feet per minute climb at an airspeed of 120 knots. When the airplane was about 200-feet-above the ground, the airplane began to descend and the airspeed began to decrease. The pilot was unable to arrest the descent and lowered the airplane's nose in an attempt to gain airspeed, but the airplane stalled and rolled left The pilot leveled the wings and the airplane impacted the ground in a level attitude, resulting in substantial damage to the airplane's fuselage and right wing. Wind reported five minutes after the accident was from 130 degrees at 14 knots gusting to 19 knots. The pilot reported there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane or engines that would have precluded normal operation prior to the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1671T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1671T-2021-10-30), registration cancelled 2021-10-30, S/N 414-0464, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 414 (UNDESIGNAT)
- Registry model: [Cessna 414](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-414) (registry code 2075908) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 414-0464
- Year built: 1973
- Airframe hours: 5900
- Engines: CONT MOTOR TSIO-520 SER reciprocating; CONT MOTOR TSIO-520 SER reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Ping Ze Aviation LLC
- Registered owner: Ping Ze Aviation LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 5, 2014
- Departed: ADS, Addison, TX
- Destination: PEZ, Pleasanton, TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: PEZ, Pleasanton Municipal, runway 34, 4,000 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 32; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 12, 2013; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 5,021 total, 1,100 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 120° at 14 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observed at: PEZ, 1 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 20140616014239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140616014239A), Jun 16, 2014: Cessna 414, Pleasanton, TX, Substantial damage. Aircraft inbound from addison, Texas to Pleasanton, Texas with pilot and 5 passengers onboard. Pilot elected to land onto runway 34 with wind direction at ese…

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 24, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89458. 2.2 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40414322&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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.

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