# NTSB CEN23LA148: Cessna 550, N550DW, Oklahoma City, OK, March 27, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 27, 2023, 12:26 local (17:26 UTC) - Place: Oklahoma City, OK - Coordinates: 35.52998, -97.645455 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5300&lon=-97.6455&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: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - Will Rogers FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 106997 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA148 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106997/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106997 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA148 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard, bounced landing, runway excursion, and subsequent collision with a runway sign. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s lack of experience in the airplane, the unstabilized approach, and inadequate crew resource management. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 550, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2076604), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot; cases with it: [Cessna 550, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2076604), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: total experience w/ equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 550, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025/cases.md?model=2076604), [All aircraft, 269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025/cases.md) - [Communication (personnel): cRM/MRM techniques](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063540): Personnel issues › Task performance · Flight crew (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 550, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063540/cases.md?model=2076604), [All aircraft, 26 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063540/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Flight crew; cases with it: [Cessna 550, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=2076604), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: sign/marker](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna 550, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md?model=2076604), [All aircraft, 214 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 550, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2076604), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 550, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2076604), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 550, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2076604), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he had recently completed his initial training, and the accident flight was his first flight in the airplane. The pilot entered the traffic pattern with the autopilot engaged and was told by the co-pilot to “keep it tight.” The autopilot did not command a steep enough bank, and the pilot disconnected the autopilot in an attempt to align with the runway centerline. On final approach about 50 ft above ground level (agl), the airplane was aligned to the right of the runway centerline. The airplane landed hard, bounced multiple times, exited the runway, and impacted a runway sign. The pilot then executed a go-around and landed without further incident at an alternate airport. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing spar. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that prior to and during the flight, challenge-response checklist reading was not utilized between he and the co-pilot, and callouts were not used below 1,000 ft agl. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N550DW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N550DW-2024-05-02), registration cancelled 2024-05-02, S/N 550-0487 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 550 - Registry model: [Cessna 550](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-550) (registry code 2076604) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada JT15D-4 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-jt15d-4-series) (registry code 52112, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 550-0487 - Engines: Pratt and Whitney turbo fan; Pratt and Whitney turbo fan - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Xceed Management Group LLC - Registered owner: Xceed Management Group LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: KPEA, Pella, IA - Destination: KPWA, Oklahoma City, OK - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: PWA, Wiley Post, runway 35R, 7,199 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; flight engineer, airline transport, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 13,302 total, 3 in this make and model, 3 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days - Co-pilot; age 36; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2; seat: right; flight hours: 1,986.1 total, 50 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.18 inHg - Observed at: KPWA, 1 nm away - METAR: KPWA 271653Z 06007KT 10SM CLR 08/M01 A3018 RMK AO2 SLP222 T00781006,M ## 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 20230327005949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230327005949A), Mar 27, 2023: Cessna 550, Bethany, OK, Substantial damage. The aircraft was on a day part 91 vfr/ifr flight from willey post, Bethany, Oklahoma, pwa to pella municipal, Iowa, pea and return to willey post. The purpose… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 29, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106997. 42.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 12.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15346306&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Video file (item 2, MOV, 28.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15355430&FileExtension=mov&FileName=IMG_0655-Rel.mov - Pilot's statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15363477&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 292 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15556585&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.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.