# NTSB FTW87FA174: Cessna 421C, N448, Crystal City, TX, July 24, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: July 24, 1987, 17:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place: Crystal City, TX
- Coordinates: 28.680116, -99.819534 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.6801&lon=-99.8195&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report November 29, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22260
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW87FA174
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22260/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW87FA174

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, landing - aborted
  - object - building(nonresidential) (contributing factor)
  - brakes(normal) - improper use of, pilot in command (cause)
  - aborted landing - delayed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - distance - misjudged, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor)
  - wrong runway - selected, pilot in command (cause)
- Fire, landing

## Analysis

THE PILOT LANDED DOWNWIND ON HIS PRIVATE STRIP. THE EXACT AMOUNT OF THE TAILWIND COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. A THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED JUST TO THE EAST OF THE RUNWAY AND COULD HAVE READILY GIVEN N448 A STRONG TAILWIND. THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN 390 FEET BEYOND THE THRESHOLD. LIGHT BRAKING ACTION WAS EVIDENT FROM THAT POINT UP TO A POINT 400 FEET FROM A HANGAR WHERE ALL TIRE MARKS DISAPPEARED. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH THE HANGAR, WHICH WAS BUILT AT THE END OF AND ACROSS THE RUNWAY, APPROXIMATELY 10 FEET ABOVE THE RUNWAY SURFACE AND WAS DESTROYED BY THE SUBSEQUENT POST CRASH FIRE.

## 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: 421C1034
- Airframe hours: 1375
- Engines: CONTINENTAL GTSIO-520-N 375 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Hayden W. Head
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 16, 1987, 95 hours before
- Departed: BEAUMONT, TX
- Destination: 8R4
- Airport: 8R4, H & F Ranchstrip, runway 25, 3,000 × 30 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 72; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 11,000 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 90° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 12,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: COT, 40 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 19870724037799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870724037799A), Jul 24, 1987: Cessna 421C, Crystal City, TX, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Tried to land in a strong tailwind saw error but struck a hangar trying to go around. Pilot was trapped in wreck.

## 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 FTW83LA095](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW83LA095), Jan 7, 1983: Cessna 421C (N448), Houston, TX, substantial damage
- [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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