# NTSB LAX85LA154: Cessna 421, N64JK, Concord, CA, February 25, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 25, 1985, 10:38 local (18:38 UTC)
- Place: Concord, CA
- Coordinates: 38.000213, -122.029891 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.0002&lon=-122.0299&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 24662
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX85LA154
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/24662/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX85LA154

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE ACFT SUSTAINED WING SPAR DAMAGE DURING A HARD LANDING. PLT STATED HE MISJUDGED HEIGHT OF THE ACFT OVER THE RWY AND LET THE AIRSPEED BECOME TOO SLOW DURING THE LANDING.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N64JK (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 421
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 16
- Engines: CONTINENTAL GTSIO-520-H 375 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Paul Byus
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: IYK, INYOKERN, CA
- Destination: CCR, CONCORD, CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: CCR, Buchanan, runway 1, 4,700 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 213 total, 41 in this make and model, 170 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 10° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19850225024449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850225024449A), Feb 25, 1985: Cessna 421, Concord, CA, Substantial damage. Flared too high with airspeed too low. Stalled, hit hard. Damaged wing spars, left main gear strut, left propeller.

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.

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