# NTSB ERA21LA240: Cessna 120, N1899N, Warwick, NY, June 5, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: June 5, 2021, 13:50 local (17:50 UTC)
- Place: Warwick, NY
- Coordinates: 41.287594, -74.287095 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.2876&lon=-74.2871&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 103222
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA240
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103222/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103222
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA240

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to attain a proper touchdown point, which resulted in the airplane contacting the ground short of the runway.

## Findings

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

- [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 120, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=2071402), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md)
- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 120, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2071402), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 120, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md?model=2071402), [All aircraft, 201 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Cessna 120, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2071402), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md)

## Analysis

According to the pilot, as he descended below a tree line on final approach to land, the airplane’s descent rate rapidly increased. He attempted to stop the descent by adding power and pitching up, but the airplane contacted the ground about 10 ft before the runway’s edge, on rough, slightly rising terrain. The left main landing gear wheel collided with the ground and separated from the gear strut. The airplane nosed down and continued across the ground before coming to rest in an upright position, partially resting on the left wing. The airplane’s left wing and fuselage were substantially damaged during the accident sequence. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1899N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1899N-2023-01-14), registration cancelled 2023-01-14, S/N 12143, built 1947 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 120
- Registry model: [Cessna 120](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-120) (registry code 2071402) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental C90 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (registry code 17009, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 12143
- Year built: 1947
- Airframe hours: 4082
- Engines: Continental O-200 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Njc120 LLC
- Registered owner: Njc120 LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 25, 2021, 33 hours before
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: N72, Warwick Municipal Airport, runway 21R, 2,100 × 50 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment: ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 30, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 979 total, 513 in this make and model, 894 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 260° at 14 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 29.86 inHg
- Observed at: KMGJ, 13 nm away
- METAR: KMGJ 051754Z AUTO 26014G18KT 10SM CLR 31/16 A2986 RMK AO2 SLP110 T03110161 10311 20189 58015

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 31, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103222. 7.0 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 5.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12423112&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20LA240_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12422792&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20array%20LA240-Rel.pdf

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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