# NTSB FTW85LA077: Cessna 340, N69477, Odessa, TX, December 14, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 14, 1984, 13:14 local (19:14 UTC)
- Place: Odessa, TX
- Coordinates: 31.929784, -102.359329 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.9298&lon=-102.3593&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 21646
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW85LA077
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/21646/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW85LA077

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, descent - normal
  - wing - ice (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, landing - flare/touchdown
  - anti-ice/deice system,windshield - inadequate
  - airspeed(vs) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

AN EXPERIENCED PROFESSIONAL PILOT ENCOUNTERED FORECAST ICING CONDITIONS ON APPROACH THAT OBSCURRED FORWARD VISIBILITY. ON GO-AROUND, ANTI-ICING EQUIPMENT CLEARED SMALL AREA OF WINDSHIELD, PILOT DECIDED TO LAND. HE FAILED TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT AIRSPEED TO COMPENSATE FOR ICE ON WINGS & STALLED IN THE LANDING FLARE FROM AND ALT OF APRX 15' AGL. THE HARD LANDING RESULTED IN STRUCTURAL DAMAGE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N69477 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 340
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 340-0322
- Airframe hours: 3027
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-K 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: Air Transport Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, September 18, 1984, 83 hours before
- Departed: ELP, EL PASO, TX
- Destination: E02, ODESSA, TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: EO2, Schlemeyer, runway 11, 5,000 × 60 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 11,476 total, 123 in this make and model, 11,476 as pilot in command, 155 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 30° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: MAF, 9 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 19841214069309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19841214069309A), Dec 14, 1984: Cessna 340CESSNA, Odessa, TX, Substantial damage. Moderate icing during descent. Circled to land. Stalled 15 feet above runway due to airframe ice and gear collapsed

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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