# NTSB CHI92LA046: Cessna 421, N777RA, Wheeling, IL, December 5, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 4, 1991, 23:50 local (Dec 5, 1991, 04:50 UTC)
- Place: Wheeling, IL
- Coordinates: 42.129951, -87.919532 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.1300&lon=-87.9195&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 8, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15361
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI92LA046
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15361/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI92LA046

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING LANDING.  A FACTOR CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE ICY RUNWAY.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - icy (contributing factor)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - window,flight compartment window/windshield - ice
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - snowbank
  - landing gear - overload

## Analysis

THE AIRPLANE CONTACTED A SLICK AREA ON THE RUNWAY DURING THE LANDING ROLL. THE AIRPLANE VEERED TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY WHERE THE LEFT MAIN GEAR CONTACTED A SNOWBANK.  THE AIRPLANE ROTATED LEFT APPROXIMATELY 100 DEGREES AND SLID SIDEWAYS PRIOR TO COMING TO A STOP WITH THE LEFT MAIN GEAR SEPARATED FROM THE AIRPLANE.  THE PILOT REPORTED THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD WAS COVERED WITH ICE CRYSTALS DURING THE LANDING.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N777RA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N777RA-2004-05-17), registration cancelled 2004-05-17, S/N 421C0409, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 421
- Registry model: [Cessna 421C](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-421c) (registry code 2076016) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental GTSI0-520-F-K](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-gtsi0-520-f-k) (registry code 17031, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 421-0409
- Airframe hours: 2310
- Engines: CONTINENTAL GTSIO-520L 375 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Arr Corp.
- Registered owner: Arr Corp.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 11, 1991, 4 hours before
- Departed: OKC, OKLAHOMA CITY, OK
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: PWK, Palwaukee, runway 12, 4,447 × 50 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 63; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,642 total, 509 in this make and model, 1,420 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Night/dark
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 9 °F

## 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 19911205056739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19911205056739A), Dec 5, 1991: Cessna 421C, Chicago/Wheelin, IL, Substantial damage. Slid off runway into snowbank landing. Windshield partly obscured by ice. Runway plowed but slippery.

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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