# NTSB FTW82DA098: Cessna 421C, N68655, Weatherford, OK, March 19, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: March 19, 1982, 13:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place: Weatherford, OK
- Coordinates: 35.530307, -98.679687 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5303&lon=-98.6797&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 19, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 72983
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW82DA098
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/72983/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW82DA098

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - not selected, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)
  - landing gear,nose gear - overload

## Analysis

BEFORE LANDING, THE PILOT OBSERVED THAT THE WIND SOCK WAS INDICATING A WIND FROM 270 DEGREES.  HE STATED THAT HE TRIED TO CALL UNICOM SEVERAL TIMES FOR WIND INFORMATION, BUT RECEIVED NO ANSWER.  AFTER TOUCHDOWN ON RUNWAY 17, A STRONG GUST OF WIND WAS ENCOUNTERED AND DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS LOST.  THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED THE RUNWAY AND THE NOSE GEAR FAILED WHEN IT ENCOUNTERED SANDY TERRAIN.  THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE WIND GAUGE HAD MEASURED A GUST OF 30 KNOTS AT THE TIME OF HIS LANDING. THIS EXCEEDED THE CROSSWIND CAPABILITY OF THE AIRCRAFT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N68655 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 421C
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 421C1072
- Airframe hours: 230
- Engines: CONTINENTAL GTSIO-520N 375 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Executive/Corporate, Part 91
- Registered owner: W W Nixon & Company
- Departed: TULSA, OK
- Destination: WEATHERFORD, OK
- Airport: F91, Thomas P. Stafford, runway 17, 4,400 × 75 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 59; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 1,135 total, 63 in this make and model, 746 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Observed at: HBR, 18 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 19820319004649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820319004649A), Mar 19, 1982: Cessna 421C, Weatherford, OK, Substantial damage. Lost directional control on landing roll due to gusty crosswind that exceeded airplane crosswind component.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.