# NTSB CHI91LA056: Cessna 340, N14DB, Chesterfield, MO, January 3, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 2, 1991, 18:00 local (Jan 3, 1991, 00:00 UTC)
- Place: Chesterfield, MO
- Coordinates: 38.160152, -90.830726 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.1602&lon=-90.8307&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 5 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 25, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 14979
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI91LA056
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/14979/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI91LA056

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE LANDING ROLL.  FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT ARE A FOGGY WINDSHIELD, MISJUDGEMENT OF ALTITUDE, PREMATURE LANDING FLARE, AND SLUSH ON THE RUNWAY.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - window,flight compartment window/windshield - dirty(foggy) (contributing factor)
  - altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - flare - premature, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - slush covered (contributing factor)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- Main gear collapsed, landing - roll

## Analysis

ON FINAL APPROACH FOR LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT WINDSHIELD FOGGED UP.  THE PILOT STATED THAT HE THOUGHT HE WAS LOW CROSSING THE RUNWAY THRESHOLD SO HE PULLED THE AIRCRAFT UP.  WHEN HE FLARED FOR LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT WAS HIGH AND MADE A HARD LANDING.  THE AIRCRAFT BOUNCED ONCE AND SLID OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AFTER THE SECOND TOUCHDOWN.  THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED WHEN THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED THE RUNWAY.  THERE WAS SLUSH ON THE RUNWAY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N14DB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N14DB-2005-04-06), registration cancelled 2005-04-06, S/N 340-0252, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 340
- Registry model: [Cessna 340](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-340) (registry code 2076404) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 340-0252
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-N 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Gateway Financial Sycs.
- Departed: RID, RICHMOND, IN
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: SUS, Spirit Of St. Louis, runway 8, 7,005 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 4,699 total, 108 in this make and model, 4,393 as pilot in command, 70 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 10° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 27 °F, dew point 21 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SUS, 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 19910102000079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910102000079A), Jan 2, 1991: Cessna 340CESSNA, St Louis, MO, Substantial damage. Fogged windshield leveled off high and dropped to slush covered runway. Slid off and collapsed left main gear.

## Other investigations on N14DB (1)

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.

- [NTSB CHI77FEK07](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI77FEK07), Nov 17, 1976: Cessna 421B (N14DB), Findlay, OH, substantial damage

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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