# NTSB LAX00LA004: Cessna 421B, N69GP, Montague, CA, October 5, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 4, 1999, 23:45 local (Oct 5, 1999, 06:45 UTC) - Place: Montague, CA - Coordinates: 41.759887, -122.39093 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7599&lon=-122.3909&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 5 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 18, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 47521 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX00LA004 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47521/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA004 ## Probable cause The collapse of the left main landing gear during the landing rollout for undetermined reasons, which resulted in the pilot's loss of directional control. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Main gear collapsed, landing - roll - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - directional control - not possible, pilot in command - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - aircraft parked/standing ## Analysis The pilot landed, and about 500 to 800 feet beyond his touchdown point, the left main landing gear collapsed. He attempted to maintain direction control with aileron and rudder, but the airplane continued to veer left off the runway toward the ramp area. Before coming to a stop, the right side of the airplane impacted the left wing of a parked Cessna P210N, causing substantial damage to both aircraft. The Cessna P210N then spun around, came out of its tie down chains, and collided with a parked Cessna 150K, inflicting minor damage to it. The pilot reported that all three green landing gear down indicator lights had been illuminated prior to landing. The postcrash examination of the airplane revealed that the left landing gear had retracted up into the gear well, and the nose gear and the right gear appeared to be undamaged. Examination of the landing gear and the associated extension/retraction systems failed to disclose a cause for the collapse. The pilot reported that he hadn't experienced any mechanical problems with the aircraft prior to the accident. He estimated that the winds at the accident airport were from approximately 200 degrees at less than 5 knots. ## Factual narrative On October 4, 1999, at 2345 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 421B, N69GP, experienced a collapsed left landing gear during the landing rollout, and subsequently collided with two parked aircraft at the Montague-Yreka Rohrer Field, Montague, California. The aircraft, owned and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The airline transport pilot and four passengers were not injured. The personal cross-country flight, conducted under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, originated at the Reno, Nevada, airport, at 2230, and was terminating in Montague. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The pilot reported that he circled the field before landing and noted that the windsock was limp. He stated that there were no other aircraft in the traffic pattern at the time. He reported that everything appeared normal as he setup for the approach to runway 14. All three green landing gear down indicator lights were illuminated. He stated that he made a normal landing, touching down by the runway numbers. During the landing rollout, about 500 to 800 feet beyond his touchdown point, the pilot felt the left side of the aircraft start to drop. He attempted to maintain directional control with aileron and rudder, but the airplane continued to veer left off the runway toward the ramp area. Before coming to a stop, the right side of the airplane impacted the left wing of a parked Cessna P210N, N4768K, causing substantial damage to both aircraft. The Cessna P210N then spun around, came out of its tie down chains, and collided with a parked Cessna 150K, N6316G, inflicting minor damage to it. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector from the Sacramento Flight Standards District Office spoke with a mechanic who examined the aircraft after the accident. The mechanic reported that the left landing gear had retracted up into the gear well and there was damage on the outside of the gear door. The nose gear and right gear appeared to be undamaged. The pilot reported that he hadn't experienced any mechanical problems with the aircraft prior to the accident. An FAA certified mechanic looked at the landing gear at the direction of the Safety Board, but was not able to determine whether there was any preexisting damage. The recorded weather data for the Siskiyou County Airport, approximately 5 miles from the accident airport, indicated that the winds at 2355 were from 220 degrees at 10 knots. The pilot estimated that the winds at the accident airport were approximately from 200 degrees at less than 5 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N69GP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N69GP-2002-11-18), registration cancelled 2002-11-18, S/N 421B0027, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 421B - Registry model: [Cessna 421B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-421b) (registry code 2076014) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental GTSIO-520-C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-gtsio-520-c) (registry code 17035, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 421B0027 - Airframe hours: 4930 - Engines: Continental GTSIO-520 375 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Gary Thompson - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 17, 1999, 22 hours before - Departed: RNO, RENO, NV - Destination: 105 - Airport: 105, Montague-Yreka Rohrer Fld, runway 14, 3,360 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 7,200 total, 153 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 220° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: SIY, 5 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 19991004043919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19991004043919A), Oct 4, 1999: Cessna 421B, Montague, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) Left main landing gear (MLG) collapsed on roll-out causing a/c to veer off runway striking several parked a/c. teh a/c was declared totaled by the… 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.