# NTSB FTW84FA296: Cessna 421B, N554, El Paso, TX, June 30, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: June 30, 1984, 14:32 local (20:32 UTC)
- Place: El Paso, TX
- Location: 31.8073° N, 106.3764° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at EL PASO INTL (ELP), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.8073&lon=-106.3764&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 8 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 21132
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW84FA296
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/21132/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW84FA296

## 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
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - soft
- Complete gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - landing gear,main gear - overload
  - landing gear,nose gear - overload
  - landing gear,main gear attachment - overload

## Analysis

FIRST EVIDENCE OF LANDING GEAR TIRE MARKS WERE FOUND APRX 4,000 FT DOWN THE RWY, RIGHT OF CENTERLINE AND CONTINUED UNTIL THE ACFT ROLLED OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RWY. ALL 3 LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED IN THE SOFT DIRT AND GRAVEL. ACCORDING TO THE PLT, WHEN THE AUTO-PILOT WAS DISENGAGED ON FINAL APPROACH, 3 MILES OUT, THE ACFT YAWED RIGHT. POWER AND RUDDER WERE USED TO MAINTAIN CONTROL. AT TOUCHDOWN POWER WAS REDUCED AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE ACFT DRIFTED RIGHT DESPITE THE APPLICATION OF LEFT RUDDER AND BRAKE. EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS IN THE AUTO-PILOT, WHEEL BRAKES, FLIGHT CONTROLS, AND TRIM SYSTEMS. THE CAUSE OF THE DIRECTIONAL CONTROL LOSS WAS NOT DETERMINED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N554](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N554-1991-03-27), registration cancelled 1991-03-27, S/N 421B0938 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 421B
- Registry model: [Cessna 421B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-421b) (registry code 2076014) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 42180938
- Engines: CONTINENTAL GTSIO-520-H 6 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Silverline Industries, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, March 30, 1984, 20 hours before
- Departed: GVT, GREENVILLE, TX
- Destination: ELP, EL PASO, TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: ELP, El Paso International, runway 26, 9,000 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 7,826 total, 1,740 in this make and model, 7,104 as pilot in command, 70 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dawn
- Wind: 160° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ELP

## 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 19840630028389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840630028389A), Jun 30, 1984: Cessna 421B, El Paso, TX, Substantial damage. Off right side of runway, no left brake. Systems check ok. Suspect parking brake with right set harder than left.

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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