# NTSB FTW95LA382: Cessna 421B, N5368J, Albuquerque, NM, September 7, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 7, 1995, 15:26 local (21:26 UTC) - Place: Albuquerque, NM - Location: 35.0389° N, 106.6083° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at ALBUQUERQUE INTL SUNPORT (ABQ), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0389&lon=-106.6083&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 5 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 27, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19573 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW95LA382 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19573/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW95LA382 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR THE CROSSWIND CONDITION. A FACTOR WAS THE CROSSWIND. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll - landing gear,nose gear - overload ## Analysis THE FLIGHT WAS CLEARED TO LAND ON RUNWAY 08 BEHIND A DEPARTING F-14, AND THE PILOT WAS CAUTIONED FOR WAKE TURBULENCE. DURING LANDING THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, COLLAPSED THE NOSE GEAR, SKIDDED AND CAME TO REST ON A TAXIWAY. THE PILOT REPORTED WINDS FROM 110 DEGREES AT 15 GUSTING TO 20 KNOTS. NATIONAL WEATHER OBSERVATION DATA REPORTED THE WINDS FROM 130 DEGREES AT 9 KNOTS. WHEN THE CESSNA WAS OVER THE APPROACH END OF RUNWAY 08, THE F-14 WAS 1.5 NAUTICAL MILES BEYOND THE DEPARTURE END OF THE 13,775-FOOT RUNWAY. THE ROTATION POINT OF THE F-14 WAS 4,000 FEET FROM THE APPROACH END OF RUNWAY 08, AND THE TOUCHDOWN POINT OF THE CESSNA WAS 2,900 FEET. THE ATC TIME OF THE F-14 DEPARTURE WAS 1524:56; THE CESSNA WAS OVER THE APPROACH END OF RUNWAY 08 AT 1526:01. ## Factual narrative On September 7, 1995, at 1526 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 421B, N5368J, sustained substantial damage during the landing flare/touchdown at Albuquerque International Airport, Albuquerque, New Mexico. The airline transport rated pilot, three passengers, and one infant did not receive injuries. The airplane was being operated as a personal flight under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated in Boise, Idaho, at 1150. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the destination airport and an IFR flight plan was filed. During interviews, conducted by the investigator-in-charge, and on the Pilot/Operator Report, the pilot reported the following information. When the airplane was on final for runway 08, the controller requested "S" turns for spacing to allow for an F-14 departure. At a one mile final, N5368J was "cleared to land, caution wake turbulence." During the landing touchdown, on the right main gear, the airplane "veered a hard left as if caught in the turbulence of the F-14." The Cessna departed the left side of the runway, collapsed the nose gear, skidded and came to rest on taxiway "A". The pilot stated that winds at the airport were from "110 degrees at 15 knots gusting to 20 knots." Examination of the airplane and the site was conducted by the FAA inspector. He reported structural damage to the fuselage, nose gear, and propeller. The inspector reported (diagram enclosed) that the touchdown point was 2,900 feet from the approach end of runway 08 and the airplane departed the left side of the runway at approximately 3,200 feet from the touchdown end. During a telephone interview, conducted by the investigator-in- charge, and on the enclosed statement, the F-14 crew reported the following information. The F14 takeoff weight was 63,000 pounds with a the rotation point at 4,000 feet and a rotation speed of 135 knots. Each engine produced approximately 17,000 pounds of thrust and the flaps were set at 10 degrees. A review of the Albuquerque Air Traffic Control Tower data revealed that at 1524:56 the F-14 was cleared for takeoff, and at 1525:31, N5368J was cleared to land. The Cessna was over the approach end of runway 08 at 1526:01, and the F14 was 1.5 nautical miles beyond the departure end of the 13,775 foot runway. The Albuquerque surface weather observation at 1450 reported the winds from 130 degrees at 9 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: N5368J (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 421B - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 421B0918 - Airframe hours: 4992 - Engines: CONTINENTAL GTSIO-520 375 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Daniel Walters & Company, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 25, 1995, 27 hours before - Departed: BOI, BOISE, ID - Destination: ABQ - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: ABQ, Albuquerque International, runway 8, 13,775 × 300 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,802 total, 68 in this make and model, 2,145 as pilot in command, 72 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 9 knots - Visibility: 60 statute miles - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: ABQ ## 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 19950907030269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950907030269A), Sep 7, 1995: Cessna 421B, Albuquerque, NM, Substantial damage. Caught in departing F14 wake during touchdown. Veered hard left. Skidded. Collapsed nose gear. ATC advised of wake. 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.