# NTSB DEN82DA030: Cessna 421B, N5439J, Spanish Fork, UT, February 10, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: February 10, 1982, 11:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place: Spanish Fork, UT
- Coordinates: 40.019565, -111.549644 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0196&lon=-111.5496&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 10, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 72658
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN82DA030
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/72658/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN82DA030

## Analysis

THE AIRCRAFT TOOKOFF FROM AN AIRPORT WITH SLUSH ON THE RUNWAY, ABOUT 10 MINUTES LATER, THE PILOT LANDED AT ANOTHER AIRPORT. THE RUNWAY AT THE DESTINATION AIRPORT WAS COVERED WITH DRY SNOW. DURING TOUCHDOWN, THE AIRCRAFT VEERED LEFT AND HIT A SNOWBANK BESIDE THE RUNWAY. THE LANDING GEAR FAILED AND THE AIRCRAFT SLID TO A STOP. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE LEFT WHEEL AND BRAKE ASSEMBLY WERE FROZEN. ICE WAS FOUND ON THE AFT PORTION OF THE BRAKE HOUSING, BRAKE FITTING, AND FLEX LINE.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - slush covered (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - temperature extremes (contributing factor)
  - landing gear,normal brake system - frozen (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - snowbank (contributing factor)
- Complete gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - landing gear - overload

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5439J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5439J-2013-07-19), registration cancelled 2013-07-19, S/N 421B0898, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 421B
- Registry model: [Cessna 421B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-421b) (registry code 2076014) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental GTSIO-520-C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-gtsio-520-c) (registry code 17035, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Airframe hours: 1275
- Engines: CONTINENTAL GTSIO-520H 375 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: E. A. Miller&Sons Packing Co.
- Registered owner: E. A. Miller&Sons Packing Co.
- Departed: PROVO, UT
- Destination: BJC, BROOMFIELD, CO
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: Spanish Fork, runway 12, 2,921 × 75 ft, macadam

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 56; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 2,753 total, 2,543 in this make and model, 2,543 as pilot in command, 42 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day

## 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 19820210003109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820210003109A), Feb 10, 1982: Cessna 421B, Spanish Fork, UT, Substantial damage. Directional control was lost during landing because wheel would not rotate due to frozen slush from departure point

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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