# NTSB CHI94LA250: Cessna 421C, N819RA, Oshkosh, WI, July 29, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 29, 1994, 09:30 local (14:30 UTC)
- Place: Oshkosh, WI
- Coordinates: 44.059051, -88.540946 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.0591&lon=-88.5409&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 25, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 9613
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI94LA250
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9613/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI94LA250

## Probable cause

the pilot-in-command's misjudging the flare and his failure to maintain airspeed.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A SHORT LANDING ON THE RUNWAY.  AFTER THE AIRPLANE CAME TO A STOP, THE RIGHT MAIN TIRE WAS FLAT, THE RIGHT PROPELLER WAS DAMAGED, AND THERE WERE WRINKLES IN THE RIGHT WING BETWEEN THE NACELLE AND WING ROOT.  DURING A CONVERSATION WITH THE PILOT, HE TOLD AN FAA INSPECTOR THAT THE LANDING WAS HARD. INSPECTION FOUND NO ANOMALIES WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM AND NO INDICATION OF PREVIOUS FAILURE OF THE TIRE.

## Factual narrative

On July 29, 1994, at 0930 central daylight time, a Cessna 421C, N819RA, registered to Pro Aviation, Ltd. of Ogden, Utah, experienced a hard landing on runway 27 (6,166' x 150' dry/concrete) at Wittman Field, Oshkosh, Wisconsin.  The airplane received substantial damage.  The private pilot and three passengers received no injuries.  The personal 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions.  An IFR flight plan was on file.  The flight departed Omaha, Nebraska, at 0730.

In his written statement the pilot stated that he felt that the right main tire was "flat or blown out prior to landing or that it blew on initial contact, at touchdown."

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) investigator at the accident scene found wrinkles in the wing between the engine nacelle and the fuselage.  He questioned the pilot how this damage occurred.  The pilot told him that the landing was hard.

The FAA investigator inspected the tire and brakes on the airplane and found no mechanical anomalies or indication of pre-impact failure of the brakes or the right main tire

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N819RA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N819RA), registered now, S/N 421C0522, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 421C
- 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: 421C0522
- Airframe hours: 4801
- Engines: CONTINENTAL GTSIO-520-L 375 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Pro Aviation Ltd
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Special, Provisional (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, June 17, 1994, 20 hours before
- Departed: OMA, OMAHA, NE
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: OSH, Wittman Field, runway 27, 6,166 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 411 total, 166 in this make and model, 323 as pilot in command, 19 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 280° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: OSH

## 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 19940729019889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940729019889A), Jul 29, 1994: Cessna 421C, Oshkosh, WI, Substantial damage. Trying for short field landing. Landed hard. Damaged right prop, blew out tire and wrinkled right wing.

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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