# NTSB MIA89LA183: Cessna 421B, N149RT, Fort Lauderdale, FL, July 3, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 3, 1989, 03:00 local (07:00 UTC)
- Place: Fort Lauderdale, FL
- Coordinates: 26.069038, -80.220138 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.0690&lon=-80.2201&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 7 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 18, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32451
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA89LA183
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32451/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA89LA183

## Probable cause

IMPROPER FLARE BY THE PILOT.  THE LIGHT CONDITION (DARK NIGHT) WAS CONSIDERED TO BE A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- Complete gear collapsed, landing
  - landing gear - overload

## Analysis

THE PILOT STATED THAT DURING AN APPROACH TO LAND AT NIGHT, SHE ALLOWED THE AIRSPEED TO DISSIPATE AND THE SINK RATE TO INCREASE. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN HARD AND ALL THREE OF THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED. NO PRE-ACCIDENT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS EVIDENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N149RT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N149RT-1989-11-29), registration cancelled 1989-11-29, S/N 421B0430 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 421B
- Registry model: [Cessna 421B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-421b) (registry code 2076014) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 421-00430
- Engines: CONTINENTAL GTSIO-520-N 375 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Ridgeley, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: ISM, KISSIMMEE, FL
- Destination: FXE
- Airport: FXE, Fort Lauderdale Executive, runway 8, 6,000 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 3,200 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 75 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: FLL, 9 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 19890703018809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890703018809A), Jul 3, 1989: Cessna 421B, Ft Lauderdale, FL, Substantial damage. Failed to arrest a high sink rate on final. Impact with runway collapsed all three landing gears.

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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