FTW01FA033

According to air traffic control communication and radar data, the flight was VFR over the top, approximately 7,900 feet, and requested an IFR clearance to the destination airport. The flight was issued an IFR clearance and, subsequently, was cleared for the localizer runway 3 approach. Radar data indicates that the airplane intercepted the localizer and began tracking inbound. Once the airplane reached the final approach fix, the airplane entered a shallow descent, but did not reach the MDA until after passing the missed approach point (MAP). The airplane flew past the MAP, continued to descend and over flew the runway. The final radar return was captured at 1,200 feet and one mile northeast of the airport, where the airplane was later located. The weather observation facility located at the airport reported that, 11 minutes before the accident, the winds were from 140 degrees at 6 knots, ceiling 200 feet overcast, visibility 1/4 miles in fog, temperature 45 degrees Fahrenheit and dew point 45 degrees Fahrenheit. A person who was at the airport at the time of the accident reported that the "clouds were low and visibility was poor." Toxicological testing performed on the pilot by the FAA's Civil Aeromedical Institute, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, revealed the following: 0.121 (ug/ml, ug/g) amphetamine detected in blood, 0.419 (ug/ml, ug/g) amphetamine detected in liver, amphetamine detected in kidney, 4.595 (ug/ml, ug/g) methamphetamine detected in blood, 5.34 (ug/ml, ug/g) methamphetamine detected in liver, 3.715 (ug/ml, ug/g) methamphetamine detected in kidney, pseudoephedrine present in blood, and pseudoephedrine present in liver. The airframe and engines were examined and no anomalies were discovered that would have effected operation of the flight.

History of flight

On December 10, 2000, at 0448 central standard time, a Cessna 421B, multi-engine airplane, N52KL, was destroyed when it impacted terrain while maneuvering near Norman, Oklahoma. The airplane was registered to a private individual, doing business as Four Twenty One Inc., of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The instrument rated commercial pilot, who was the operator, and his one passenger sustained fatal injuries. Night instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules (IFR) clearance was issued en route for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The cross-country flight originated from the Altus Municipal Airport, Altus, Oklahoma, and was destined for the University of Oklahoma Westheimer Airport, Norman, Oklahoma.

According to the owner of the airplane, on December 3, 2000, the airplane was delivered to Airman Flight School, Norman, Oklahoma, for an annual inspection. He stated that, once the airplane was delivered "no one was authorized to fly the plane." According to Airman personnel, the annual inspection had not been started as close-of-business on December 18, 2000.

According to the airport manager of the Altus Municipal Airport, Altus, Oklahoma, the Cessna 421 arrived at the airport on December 9, 2000, at 1850. He reported that when the terminal building was opened at 0700, on December 10, 2000, the Cessna 421 was not on the ramp.

According to information provided by Oklahoma City Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON), on December 10, 2000, at 0434, the airplane was VFR over-the-top and six miles west of Chickasha, Oklahoma, approximately 7,900 feet, when the pilot stated that he had the "ASOS at Westheimer" and requested an IFR clearance to the Westheimer Airport. The controller issued the pilot an IFR clearance and the current weather for the Will Rogers World Airport, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and for the Westheimer Airport. At 0443, the flight was cleared for the localizer runway 03 instrument approach, and the pilot acknowledged. At 0444, the controller advised the pilot that the missed approach procedure would be to "fly heading three five zero and maintain three thousand." Subsequently, at 0445, the flight was one mile from the final approach fix (FAF) and was approved to change to the Westheimer Airport advisory frequency. The pilot acknowledged and no further communications were received from the airplane.

Radar data indicated that the aircraft intercepted the localizer inbound approximately 3,000 feet, 8 nautical miles from the airport and that the airplane was descending. The aircraft tracked along the extended centerline of runway 03. The airplane crossed the Sooner intersection (FAF) approximately 2,400 feet and continued to descend; however, as the airplane crossed the missed approach point (0.9 DME) it was at 1,900 feet, approximately 320 feet above the minimum descent altitude (MDA). The airplane continued to descend and over flew the runway. The airplane then turned left to a northerly heading before it disappeared from radar. The last three reported altitudes were 1,500 feet msl at 0448:15; 1,500 feet msl at 0448:20; and 1,200 feet msl at 0448:24.

There were no reported eyewitnesses to the accident. However, according to a police officer, who was patrolling the airport, an airplane over flew runway 03 at the Westheimer Airport between 0445 and 0450. He stated that he did not see the airplane or any lights, but he did hear the engines operating. He did not recall if the approach/runway lights were illuminated. He added that the "clouds were low and visibility was poor."

Approximately 1000, personnel from Airman Flight School located the wreckage of the airplane, approximately 1 mile northeast of the Westheimer Airport.

Personnel information

On November 30, 1988, the pilot's airline transport certificate was revoked for a five year time period due to violations of FAR Part 91.12A, 91.13, 91.73A, 91.73D, and 91.9. On November 4, 1995, the pilot was issued a commercial pilot certificate, and on December 17, 1997, he was issued a certified flight instructor certificate. He held the following ratings: airplane single engine land, airplane multiengine land and airplane instrument.

On August 30, 2000, the pilot was issued a second-class medical certificate, which stipulated that he must have glasses available for near vision. According to the medical application, the pilot had accumulated a total of 10,000 flight hours.

The pilot was employed by Airman Flight School as a flight instructor.

Aircraft information

The 1972 model airplane was equipped with two 375-horsepower Continental GTISO-520-H engines and two 3-bladed, constant speed, full feathering McCauley propellers.

On December 10, 1999, the airframe underwent its most recent annual inspection, at a total airframe time of 5,266.7 hours. On the same date, both engines and propeller assemblies underwent their most recent 100-hour inspections. On November 22, 1998, the two transponders underwent their most recent inspections. On September 10, 1998, the aircraft's altimeters and static pressure system underwent their most recent inspections. The logbook entry for the check did not mention the pitot system.

The airframe had accumulated a total of 5,315.1 hours at the time of the accident. The left and right engines had accumulated a total of 773.0 and 589.0 flight hours since overhaul, respectively, at the time of the accident. The left and right propeller assemblies had accumulated a total of 198.8 and 589.0 flight hours since overhaul, respectively, at the time of the accident.

Meteorologial information

At 0437, the weather observation facility at the University of Oklahoma Westheimer Airport, reported the wind from 140 degrees at 6 knots, an overcast ceiling at 200 feet, visibility 1/4 mile in fog, temperature 45 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 45 degrees Fahrenheit, and an altimeter setting of 29.93 inches of Mercury.

There was no record of the pilot having contacted the McAlester Automated Flight Service Station for a weather briefing on December 9 or 10, 2000.

Aerodrome information

The University of Oklahoma Westheimer Airport (OUN) is located at north 035 degrees 44.032 minutes latitude and west 097 degrees 19.663 minutes longitude, and the airport's elevation is 1,182 feet msl. The airport's air traffic control tower (ATCT) operates on frequency 118.00, daily between 0800 and 2000. When the ATCT is not in operation the common traffic advisory frequency is 118.00. Runway 03 is oriented on a magnetic heading of 031 and measures 4,747 feet long by 100 feet wide. Runway 03 is outfitted with medium intensity runway lights and a medium intensity approach light system, both of which are pilot activated on the 118.00 frequency.

Aids to navigation

Runway 03 is equipped with a localizer type approach, supplemented by distance measuring equipment (DME). The localizer frequency is 111.10 and the final approach course is aligned at 029 degrees magnetic. For a straight-in landing (with the local altimeter setting) the minimum descent altitude (MDA) is 1,580 feet msl (404 feet agl), and the minimum visibility is 3/4 mile for category A and B airplanes. The approach chart stipulates that the airplane intercept the final approach course and become established inbound, within 10 nautical miles of the runway. Once established, the approach chart dictates that the airplane track the localizer inbound along the final approach course and maintain an altitude no lower than 2,500 feet until crossing the final approach fix (Sooner), at which point a descent to the MDA should be initiated. The missed approach point is 0.9 DME, or 3:00 minutes at 90 knots, from the final approach fix.

Following the accident, the FAA ground checked the localizer and DME facilities and no anomalies were noted.

Wreckage