# NTSB CHI85FA218: Cessna 425, N2079A, Dayton, OH, May 29, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: May 29, 1985, 18:28 local (23:28 UTC)
- Place: Dayton, OH
- Location: 39.9023° N, 84.2194° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at JAMES M COX DAYTON INTL (DAY), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9023&lon=-84.2194&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 12841
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI85FA218
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/12841/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI85FA218

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Abrupt maneuver, landing - flare/touchdown
  - proper descent rate - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command (cause)
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
- Complete gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ACFT INVOLVED WAS EXPERIMENTALLY CONFIGURED WITH 4-BLADED PROPS AND WAS ON A TEST FLT TO DETERMINE HANDLING CHARACTERISTICS FOLLOWING A THROTTLE CHOP TO IDLE POWER AT 50 FT AGL. THIS MANEUVER HAD BEEN ACCOMPLISHED TWICE ON THE TEST FLT WITHOUT INCIDENT. ON THE THIRD LANDING, THE PLT LATER STATED, THAT HE RETARDED THE THROTTLES MORE BRISKLY THAN ON PREVIOUS APPROACHES. OBSERVERS ON THE PLANE AND ON THE GROUND THEN SAW A YAW AND A WING DROP. THE RIGHT GEAR STRUCK THE RWY FIRST, FOLLOWED BY THE LEFT AND NOSE GEARS. ALL THREE GEAR THEN SHEARED OFF. THE ACFT SLID TO A STOP OFF THE RWY 975 FT FROM INITIAL IMPACT. A POST-ACCIDENT TEARDOWN OF THE PROPS REVEALED NO PREEXISTING MISADJUSTMENTS OR ABNORMALITIES.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N2079A (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 425
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 425-0001
- Airframe hours: 876
- Engines: P&W PT6A-112 450 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 91
- Registered owner: Cessna Aircraft Company
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Airport: DAY, James M. Cox Dayton Intl, runway 24L, 7,000 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 12,220 total, 11 in this make and model, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: DAY, 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 19850529026849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850529026849A), May 29, 1985: Cessna 425, Dayton, OH, Destroyed. During test flight to evaluate a propeller system, excessive sink developed. Hard landing sheared all gear.

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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