GAA18CA390

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 421 · Clifton, TX · July 1, 2018

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
July 1, 2018, 10:45 local (15:45 UTC)
Place
Clifton, TX
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N7625QCessna 421
Defining event
Landing: Loss of control in flight
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report June 5, 2019
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
General Aviation Accidents
Parties
FAA
FAA report
20180701008979A
Case key
97664

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

On this page

Probable cause

The pilot's improper landing flare in crosswind conditions, which resulted in a hard landing.

Findings · 4

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

Use of equip/info: aircraft controlPersonnel issues › Task performance · PilotCessna 421B: 11 casesAll aircraft: 9,295 casesProbable cause
Performance/control parameters: landing flareAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintainedCessna 421B: 2 casesAll aircraft: 1,285 casesProbable cause
Wind: crosswindEnvironmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operationCessna 421B: 1 caseAll aircraft: 1,008 cases
Wind: gustsEnvironmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operationCessna 421B: 2 casesAll aircraft: 1,199 cases

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Analysis

The pilot reported that, during short final, while approaching the runway threshold, he reduced the engine power to maintain glideslope, added full flaps, and applied a little left rudder to maintain the runway heading. Subsequently, the airplane sank and landed hard, and the nose landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both engine mounts, the right wing, tail, and rudder. The pilot also reported that, before the approach, an air traffic controller advised him that the wind at the destination airport was from 190° at 14 knots, gusting to 18 knots. The airport’s automated weather observation station reported that, about 10 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 200° at 14 knots. The airplane landed on runway 14. The Airport Facility Directory advised, "Steep drop off north of runway 14." The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that, during short final, while approaching the runway threshold, he reduced the engine power to maintain glideslope, added full flaps, and applied a little left rudder to maintain runway heading. Subsequently, the airplane sank, and landed hard collapsing the nose landing gear. He further reported that prior to the approach, he was advised by air traffic control that the wind at the destination airport was 190° at 14 knots, gusting to 18 knots. The automated weather observation station located on the airport reported that, about 10 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 200° at 14 knots. The airplane landed on runway 14. The Airport Facility Directory advised "Steep drop off north of runway 14." The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both engine mounts, right wing, tail and rudder.

Aircraft

Registration
N7625Q
Reported as
Cessna 421 (B)
Category
Airplane
Serial number
421B0364
Built
1973
Airframe hours
10,949.1
Engines
Cont Motor GTSIO-520-H1, 375 horsepower, reciprocatingCont Motor GTSIO-520-h2, 375 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · September 27, 2017
Departed
RBD · Dallas, TX
Destination
7F7 · Clifton, TX
Airport
7F7 · Clifton Muni/Isenhower Field, runway 14, 3,000 × 50 ft, asphalt
Equipment
Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Onboard weather, Handheld GPS, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
69
Injuries
Minor
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 3, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
March 19, 2018
Seat
Left
Restraint
3-point
Flight hours
2,116 total · 1,530 in this make and model · 2,033 as pilot in command · 24 in the last 90 days · 14.5 in the last 30 days · 0.5 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
190° at 14 knots
Visibility
9 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
84 °F, dew point 70 °F
Altimeter
29.96 inHg
Observed at
KACT, 21 nm away

Docket · 3

The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 27, 2019, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 3.5 MB in all.

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.