# NTSB MIA95TA199: Cessna 404, N461MC, Raiford, FL, August 10, 1995

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: August 10, 1995, 10:10 local (14:10 UTC)
- Place: Raiford, FL
- Coordinates: 30.059595, -82.229812 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.0596&lon=-82.2298&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 19, 1996
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 37847
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA95TA199
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37847/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA95TA199

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOR LANDING.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - soft (contributing factor)
  - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - landing gear,nose gear - overload
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - ditch

## Analysis

WHILE LANDING ON A WET, SOFT, SOD RUNWAY, THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE AIRPLANE SKIDDED OFF THE RUNWAY INTO A DITCH.

## Factual narrative

On August 10, 1995, about 1010 eastern daylight time, N461MC, a Cessna 404, registered to and operated by the Monroe County Sheriff's Office, a 14 CFR Part 91 public use flight, experienced a nose gear collapse on landing at Raiford Prison Airstrip, Raiford, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and an IFR flight plan had been filed. The airplane was substantially damaged and the pilot and two passengers reported no injuries. The flight had originated from Titusville, Florida, about 0930 the same day.

The pilot reported that while landing on the wet, sod airstrip the airplane decelerated rapidly, and the nose gear collapsed. The airplane then skidded into a ditch.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N461MC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N461MC-2002-02-26), registration cancelled 2002-02-26, S/N 404-0674, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 404
- Registry model: [Cessna 404](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-404) (registry code 2075901) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental GTSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-gtsio-520-series) (registry code 17046, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 0674
- Airframe hours: 3547
- Engines: CONTINENTAL GTSIO-520-M 375 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Public aircraft, Part 91
- Registered owner: Monroe County Sheriff'S Office
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 11, 1994, 351 hours before
- Departed: TIX, TITUSVILLE, FL
- Destination: FL28, FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: FL28, Raiford Prison Airstrip, runway 33, 4,000 × 100 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 56; flight instructor, commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 5,597 total, 35 in this make and model, 5,253 as pilot in command, 93 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 30° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: GNV, 25 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 19950810036279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950810036279A), Aug 10, 1995: Cessna 404CESSNA, Raiford, FL, Substantial damage. Landed on wet sod strip. Decelerated rapidly. Nose gear collapsed. Skidded into a ditch.

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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