# NTSB LAX04LA087: Cessna 421C, N911EA, Window Rock, AZ, January 3, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 3, 2004, 15:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Window Rock, AZ - Coordinates: 35.651943, -109.067222 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.6519&lon=-109.0672&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 5 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 8, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 58584 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX04LA087 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58584/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04LA087 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed in the landing flare to compensate for airframe icing, which resulted in a premature stall and hard landing. The degraded aircraft performance due to airframe ice was a contributing factor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, circling (ifr) - weather condition - icing conditions - weather condition - gusts - airframe - ice (contributing factor) - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - airspeed - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - aircraft performance - deteriorated (contributing factor) - stall - encountered, pilot in command ## Analysis The airplane landed hard on the left main gear. The pilot was attempting to execute the VOR/DME-A circling approach in instrument meteorological conditions, to include icing and gusty wind conditions. The pilot believes that during the approach, the airframe accumulated airframe ice. Prior to touchdown, in the landing flare, the airplane stalled prematurely, impacting the runway hard. ## Factual narrative On January 3, 2004, about 1530 mountain standard time, a Cessna 421C, N911EA, landed hard in gusty wind conditions at the Window Rock Airport, Window Rock, Arizona. Scenic Aviation, Inc., was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 135. The airline transport pilot and four passengers were not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight plan had been filed. The flight originated from the Flagstaff Pulliam Airport, Flagstaff, Arizona, at 1443, with a planned destination of Window Rock. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge, the pilot reported that he was attempting to execute the VOR/DME-A circling approach to runway 02. While performing the approach, he noted gusty wind conditions and freezing temperatures. Upon touchdown, the airplane hit hard on the left main landing gear. The pilot opined that due to the severe icing conditions, the airframe possibly accumulated a layer of ice, which contributed to the premature landing stall. At 1510, the weather observation facility (automated surface observing system) at Window Rock Airport reported wind from 260 degrees at 14 knots; light snow; mist; 1 statue mile visibility; broken cloud layer at 900 feet and 1,500 feet; and overcast at 2,200 feet; temperature 1 degree Celsius; dew point -1 degree Celsius; and an altimeter setting of 29.76 inches of mercury. At 1553, the facility reported wind from 290 degrees at 14 knots, gusting to 26 knots; light snow; freezing conditions and fog; 0.5 statue mile visibility; broken cloud layers at 700 feet and 1,300 feet; and overcast at 1,800 feet; temperature -1 degree Celsius; dew point -2 degree Celsius; and an altimeter setting of 29.79 inches of mercury. The Federal Aviation Administration-H-8083-3 Airplane Flying Handbook states, "Degradation of all flight characteristics and large performance losses can be expected with ice accumulation. Ice will accumulate unevenly on the airplane. It will add weight and drag (primarily drag), and decrease thrust and lift." Despite numerous attempts by a Safety Board investigator, both the pilot and operator failed to submit a NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2). ## Aircraft - Registration: N911EA (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Cessna 421C - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 421C-0870 - Engines: Continental GTSIO-520 300 horsepower reciprocating; Continental TSIO-520 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Scenic Aviation Inc - Registered owner: Scenic Aviation Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: FLG, Flagstaff, AZ - Destination: RQE, Window Rock, AZ - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: RQE, Window Rock Aiport, runway 02, 7,000 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review February 18, 2003; seat: front; flight hours: 11,000 total ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 14 knots - Visibility: 1 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 900 ft broken - Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 29.76 inHg - Observed at: RQE ## 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 20040103001549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040103001549A), Jan 3, 2004: Cessna 421C, Window Rock, AZ, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot was attempting to land N911EA when the aircraft stalled before the pilot was in a normal position to land. The aircraft hit the runway causing… 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.