- Date
- May 22, 2007, 07:05 local (11:05 UTC)
- Place
- Kokomo, IN
- Injuries
- 5 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N85SCCessna 421C
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 27, 2007
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20070522011769A
- Case key
- 65955
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot not obtaining proper alignment with the runway during the emergency landing after takeoff, which imparted an excessive side load on the landing gear. Factors contributing to the accident were the unstabilized approach and engine shutdown due to the oil leak.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The aircraft executed an emergency landing after takeoff. Shortly after takeoff, the pilot observed smoke coming from the left engine. As he started his turn back towards the airport, he discovered oil leaking from the inboard side of the left engine cowling. He shut down the left engine, feathered the propeller, and turned final for the runway (4,001 feet by 150 feet, asphalt). He noticed that he was too high and east of the centerline, and started making his correction while still carrying a lot of power with the right engine. As he landed, the right main gear touched first followed by the left main gear. The left main gear collapsed. The airplane then departed the left side of the runway into the grass, where the nose gear and right main gear subsequently collapsed.
Factual narrative
The aircraft was substantially damaged following an emergency landing after takeoff. The pilot stated that shortly after takeoff, he observed smoke coming from the left engine. As he started his turn back towards the airport, he discovered oil leaking from the inboard side of the left engine cowling. He shut down the left engine, feathered the propeller, and turned final for the runway (4,001 feet by 150 feet, asphalt). He noticed that he was too high and east of the centerline, and started making his correction while still carrying a lot of power with the right engine. As he landed, the right main gear touched first followed by the left main gear. The left main gear collapsed. The airplane then departed the left side of the runway into the grass, where the nose gear and right main gear subsequently collapsed.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N85SC
- Reported as
- Cessna 421C
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 421C0026
- Airframe hours
- 6,422
- Engine
- Teledyne Continental GTSIO-520-L, 375 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 135
- Operator
- Miller, Dave, doing business as Miller Aviation
- Registered owner
- Mick Air LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · May 1, 2007
- Departed
- OKK · Kokomo, IN
- Destination
- RSN · Ruston, LA
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- OKK · Kokomo Muni, runway 32, 4,001 × 150 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 35
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- February 1, 2007
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 2,470 total · 84 in this make and model · 2,383 as pilot in command · 202 in the last 90 days · 90 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 120° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 55 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.14 inHg
- Observed at
- KGUS, 8 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.