- Date
- February 10, 2019, 14:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place
- Woodruff, WI
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N581CJCessna 421
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 26, 2019
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20190210010089A
- Case key
- 99008
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 failure to maintain to directional control during takeoff from a snow-covered runway with a right, quartering tailwind, which resulted in a runway excursion and impact with a snowbank.
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.
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 the takeoff roll on a plowed, snow-covered runway, he could "feel the [airplane] pulling to the right" and corrected with opposite rudder, but the airplane slowly exited the runway to the right and impacted a snowbank. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both propellers and the right engine mount. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airport's automated weather observation station reported that, about 5 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 110° at 5 knots, 1 1/4 statute miles visibility, overcast at 900 ft, temperature 18°F, dew point 12°F, and light snow. The airplane departed from runway 36.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that, during the takeoff roll on a plowed, snow-covered runway for an instrument flight, he could "feel the [airplane] pulling to the right" and corrected with opposite rudder but the airplane slowly exited the runway to the right and impacted a snowbank. The twin-engine airplane sustained substantial damage to both propellers and the right engine mount. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation station located on the airport reported that, about 5 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 110° at 5 knots, 1 1/4 statute mile visibility, overcast at 900 ft, temperature 18°F, dew point 12°F, and light snow. The airplane departed on runway 36.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N581CJ
- Reported as
- Cessna 421 (B)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 421B0343
- Built
- 1972
- Airframe hours
- 9,072.9
- Engines
- Continental GTSI0-520-F-K, 375 horsepower, reciprocatingContinental GTSI0-520-H5B, 375 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · February 6, 2018
- Departed
- ARV · Woodruff, WI
- Destination
- 1H0 · St Louis, MO
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- ARV · Lakeland/Noble F Lee Memorial, runway 36, 5,150 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- Onboard weather, Stall warning system, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic multifunction display, Handheld GPS
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
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- February 6, 2019
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 13,881 total · 200 in this make and model · 13,000 as pilot in command · 124 in the last 90 days · 40 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Wind
- 110° at 5 knots
- Lowest ceiling
- 900 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 18 °F, dew point 12 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.27 inHg
- Observed at
- KARV
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 16, 2019, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.1 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.