# NTSB LAX98LA121: Cessna 421B, N70PD, Show Low, AZ, March 18, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 18, 1998, 04:41 local (11:41 UTC) - Place: Show Low, AZ - Coordinates: 34.229393, -110.069351 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2294&lon=-110.0694&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 1, 1999 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 30055 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX98LA121 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/30055/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA121 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to attain the proper alignment on the runway due to the obscuration by snow of the runway and on the airplane's windows. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - roll/run - weather condition - snow - light condition - dark night - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - snow covered - window,flight compartment window/windshield - dirty(foggy) - proper alignment - not obtained/maintained, pilot in command (cause) - Gear collapsed, takeoff - roll/run - terrain condition - soft - landing gear,nose gear - overload ## Analysis The pilot taxied about 1/2 mile before reaching the displaced threshold of the runway. Witness reports indicated that it was snowing heavily and the pilot admitted that his windscreen was partially covered with heavy, wet snow. The pilot thought the snow would not be a factor once he began his takeoff roll. Examination of the runway by FAA inspectors disclosed that the starting point of the takeoff roll and where the airplane came to rest was a straight line, and, the airplanes tracks showed that the pilot inadvertently lined the airplane up with the runway edge lines rather than the centerline stripe. The airplane departed the runway and the nose gear collapsed in the mud. There was no evidence of a mechanical malfunction. ## Factual narrative On March 18, 1998, at 0441 hours mountain standard time, a Cessna 421B, N70PD, ran off runway 24 during the initial takeoff roll and collapsed the nose gear at Show Low, Arizona. The aircraft sustained substantial damage. The pilot, paramedic, and flight nurse were not injured. The aircraft, operated by American Corporate Aviation, d.b.a. Medical Express International Inc., was on a 14 CFR Part 91 repositioning flight to pick up an injured person at Zuni Pueblo Airport when the accident occurred. The aircraft was on an IFR flight plan and instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot stated that he filed an IFR flight plan and received his clearance from his cellular telephone while he was holding his position on the runway. He said he released the parking brake and began what seemed to be a normal takeoff roll on runway 24. He stated that it was snowing with approximately 2 miles visibility and the runway was wet with some accumulation of snow and slush. About 200 feet on the takeoff roll, with the airspeed indicator showing 40-50 knots, the airplane began to veer to the left. The pilot said he responded initially with differential power and full right rudder but that this had little corrective effect. The right wheel departed the pavement about 500 to 750 feet, and the takeoff was aborted by retarding the throttles and applying the brakes. The airplane came to rest in the mud to the left of the runway in a nose down attitude, with the nose gear collapsed. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector who traveled to the scene, witnesses stated that it was snowing heavily at the time of the accident. The inspector estimated that the pilot taxied the airplane about 1/2 mile to reach the end of the runway. He said there was a displaced threshold at the end of runway 24 and the runway lights were hard to see because of the snow. He also noted that the pilot could not see the runway lines and only the taxiway lines and runway edge lines were visible on the snow-covered runway. The FAA representative stated the starting point and where the airplane finally ended up was a straight line on the runway edge side stripe, which was approximately 20 feet to the left of the runway centerline marking. The pilot told the inspector that the snow was accumulating rapidly on the windshield, but that he thought it wouldn't be a factor once he began his takeoff roll. He stated that the aircraft yawed to the left and that it felt like the left brake was "dragging" prior to the airplane going off the runway. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N70PD](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N70PD-2018-02-21), registration cancelled 2018-02-21, S/N 421B0562, built 1974 (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: 421B0562 - Airframe hours: 6386 - Engines: Continental GTSIO-520-C 375 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Registered owner: American Corporate Aviation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 13, 1998, 14 hours before - Destination: ZUN, ZUNI PUEBLO, NM - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: SOW, Show Low Municipal, runway 24, 6,000 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; commercial, flight engineer, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 5,500 total, 80 in this make and model, 5,000 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark - Wind: 320° at 5 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 2 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 600 ft overcast - Temperature: 27 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 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 19980318003699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980318003699A), Mar 18, 1998: Cessna 421B, Show Low, AZ, Substantial damage. Ran off runway into mud on takeoff. Heavy snow on windshield. Had moved the H21 and cleaned off snow by FAA arrival (.4)on March 18, 1998, at 0441 hours… 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.