# NTSB DEN08LA112: Cessna 195, N4426C, Houston, TX, June 23, 2008

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 23, 2008, 08:15 local (13:15 UTC)
- Place: Houston, TX
- Coordinates: 29.818056, -95.6725
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.8181&lon=-95.6725&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 29, 2009
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 68295
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN08LA112
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68295/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN08LA112

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control, causing the design stress limits of the airplane to be exceeded. Excessive sideloads incurred caused the right main landing gear wheel and strut to fail.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 195, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2073102), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Landing gear system: main landing gear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 195, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md?model=2073102), [All aircraft, 241 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 195, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2073102), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 195, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2073102), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Cessna 195, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2073102), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot said he made a "smooth wheel landing" on runway 33. Touchdown speed was 80 mph. After the tail wheel settled to the ground, the pilot applied brakes and the airplane started veering to the left. The pilot attempted corrective action, but the airplane started to ground loop. The pilot said side loads on the right main gear caused the wheel to break off. The gear strut dug into the ground and it, too, broke off. The leading edge of the left wing was crushed from the tip to the root, both elevators were bent, and the firewall was wrinkled. The weather was clear and the winds were calm.

## Factual narrative

On June 23, 2008, approximately 0815 central daylight time, a Cessna 195, N4426C, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged when the right main landing gear collapsed during landing at the West Houston Airport (IWS), Houston, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot and his passenger were not injured. The cross-country flight originated at Fredericksburg (T82), Texas, approximately 0645, and was en route to Houston. According to the pilot's accident report, he made a "smooth wheel landing" on runway 33. Touchdown speed was 80 mph. After the tail wheel settled to the ground, the pilot applied brakes and the airplane started veering to the left. The pilot attempted corrective action, but the airplane started to ground loop. The pilot said side loads on the right main gear caused the wheel to break off. The gear strut dug into the ground and it, too, broke off. According to an FAA inspector who went to the accident site, the right main wheel was still attached to the landing gear strut. The leading edge of the left wing was crushed from the tip to the root, both elevators were bent, and the firewall was wrinkled. There was no evidence of pre-existing failure or malfunction of the airplane or flight controls. The weather was clear and the winds were calm.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4426C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4426C), registered now, S/N 16011, built 1953 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 195
- Registry model: [Cessna 195](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-195) (registry code 2073102) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Jacobs R755A series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/jacobs-r755a-series) (registry code 35006, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 16011
- Airframe hours: 3115
- Engines: Jacobs R-755A2 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Stephen W. Allen
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 2007, 35 hours before
- Departed: T82, Fredericksburg, TX
- Destination: IWS, Houston, TX
- Airport: IWS, West Houston, runway 33, 3,953 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 54; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 1, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 308 total, 38 in this make and model, 288 as pilot in command, 55 in the last 90 days, 27 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 320° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observed at: HOU, 10 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 20080623840099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080623840099A), Jun 23, 2008: Cessna 195, Houston, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) Airplane had hard landing, RH main gear collapsed and torn out of mount, rt hand wing damaged tip to wing root, right hand aileron damaged, both…

## Other investigations on N4426C (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 CEN13LA170](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA170), Feb 17, 2013: Cessna 195 (N4426C), Austin, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's use of an excessive taxi speed, which resulted in the airplane overrunning the end of the unlit taxiway after the failure of the right wing landing light.

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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