# NTSB FTW83LA095: Cessna 421C, N448, Houston, TX, January 7, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 7, 1983, 08:15 local (14:15 UTC)
- Place: Houston, TX
- Coordinates: 29.649396, -95.279785 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.6494&lon=-95.2798&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 20795
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW83LA095
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20795/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW83LA095

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - proper descent rate - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, landing - roll
  - landing gear,tire - failure,total (contributing factor)
  - ground loop/swerve - uncontrolled, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PILOT STATED THAT AFTER A NORMAL COUPLED ILS APPROACH HE BROKE OUT AT ABOUT 250 FT AGL AND 1/2 MILE FROM THE RWY. HE DISCONNECTED THE APPROACH COUPLER AND LINED UP WITH THE RWY. HE STATED THAT DURING THE TRANSITION FROM IFR TO VISUAL HIS RATE OF DESCENT INCREASED AND HE LANDED HARD BLOWING THE LEFT TIRE. THE ACFT LEFT THE RWY AND TURNED 180 DEGREES. THE LEFT PROPELLER HIT THE GROUND AFTER THE ACFT LEFT THE RWY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N448](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N448-1988-04-25), registration cancelled 1988-04-25, S/N 421C1034 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 421C
- Registry model: [Cessna 421C](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-421c) (registry code 2076016) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 421C-1034
- Airframe hours: 350
- Engines: CONTINENTAL GTSIO-520-N 375 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Executive/Corporate, Part 91
- Registered owner: Hayden W. Head
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 30, 1982
- Departed: CRP, CORPUS CHRISTI, TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: HOU, Wm. P. Hobby, runway 13R, 7,600 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 67; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 10,200 total, 1,800 in this make and model, 10,006 as pilot in command, 61 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 200 ft overcast

## 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 19830107014099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830107014099A), Jan 7, 1983: Cessna 421C, Houston, TX, Substantial damage. After ILS approach to minimums, pilot allowed aircraft to make hard landing,blowing out left tire,ran off runway.

## Other investigations on N448 (2)

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 FTW87FA174](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW87FA174), Jul 24, 1987: Cessna 421C (N448), Crystal City, TX, destroyed, 1 fatal
- [NTSB FTW81DRG65](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW81DRG65), Sep 6, 1981: Cessna 421B (N448), Crystal City, TX, substantial damage

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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