# NTSB NYC02LA190: Cessna 421, N23RL, Ithaca, NY, September 15, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 15, 2002, 19:47 local (23:47 UTC) - Place: Ithaca, NY - Coordinates: 42.491111, -76.45861 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4911&lon=-76.4586&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 5 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 23, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA\FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 55703 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC02LA190 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55703/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC02LA190 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. A factor in the accident was the wet runway. ## 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 - weather condition - rain - light condition - night - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - wet (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - grass ## Analysis While executing an instrument approach, the airplane was in instrument meteorological conditions until reaching about 700 feet agl. Once clear of the clouds, it was lightly raining, there was no turbulence, and both pilots could clearly see the airport. The pilot was advised by the tower controller that it was raining heavily at the airport. The pilot selected landing flaps, and slowed the airplane to approximately 100 knots. The intensity of the rain increased, and the airplane touched down "smoothly" near the runway aiming point and "slightly" left of centerline. The pilot lowered the nose, and "lightly" applied the brakes. The airplane started to hydroplane, yaw left, and then exited the left side of the runway. The airplane slid several hundred feet, and was substantially damaged before it came to a stop. Examination of the wreckage revealed no preimpact failures or malfunctions. ## Factual narrative On September 15, 2002, about 1947 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 421, N23RL, was substantially damaged while landing at the Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport (ITH), Ithaca, New York. The certificated commercial pilot, the certificated airline transport pilot, and the three passengers were not injured. Instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) prevailed for the flight that departed the Morristown Municipal Airport (MMU), Morristown, New Jersey, about 1845. An instrument flight rules flight plan was filed, and the personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot he arrived at the airport about 1810, and preflighted the airplane while the second pilot obtained the ATIS and IFR clearance. The pilot occupied the left seat, started both engines, and taxied to runway 23. Once airborne, he climbed the airplane to 12,000 feet, and the flight progressed without incident. In the Binghamton, New York, area, the pilot intercepted the localizer and glide slope for runway 32, and initiated a descent. He engaged the autopilot while obtaining the ATIS and briefing the approach to the second pilot. The pilot then disengaged the autopilot, and continued tracking the localizer inbound. Before reaching the locator outer marker, the pilot lowered the landing gear, and selected approach flaps. During the approach, the airplane was in IMC until reaching about 700 feet agl. Once clear of the clouds, flight visibility was approximately 2 miles, the airplane was in light rain, there was no turbulence, and both pilots could clearly see the airport. The pilot was advised by the tower controller that it was raining heavily at the airport. The pilot then selected landing flaps, and slowed the airplane to approximately 100 knots. The intensity of the rain increased, and the airplane touched down "smoothly" near the runway aiming points and "slightly" left of centerline. The pilot lowered the nose, and "lightly" applied the brakes. The airplane then started to hydroplane, and yaw left. It exited the left side of the runway, and slid several hundred feet before coming to a stop. According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the airplane came to rest about halfway down runway 32, and off the landing surface to the left. The runway was 6,601 feet long, 150 feet wide, and surfaced with asphalt. Examination of the wreckage revealed the left main landing gear had separated from the airplane, and the left horizontal stabilizer was substantially damaged. Examination of the wreckage revealed no preimpact failures or malfunctions. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N23RL](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N23RL), registered now, S/N 421C1094, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 421 - Registry model: [Cessna 421C](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-421c) (registry code 2076016) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental GTSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-gtsio-520-series) (registry code 17039, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 421C-1094 - Airframe hours: 3585 - Engines: Continental IO-520 375 horsepower reciprocating; Continental IO-520 375 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Tiger Aviation, LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 2002, 54 hours before - Departed: MMU, Morristown, NJ - Destination: ITH, Ithaca, NY - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: ITH, Ithaca Tompkins Regional, runway 32, 6,601 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 32; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review July 20, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 522 total, 40 in this make and model, 427 as pilot in command, 79 in the last 90 days, 26 in the last 30 days - Co-pilot; age 59; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review September 1, 2002; seat: right; flight hours: 23,000 total, 780 in this make and model, 315 in the last 90 days, 37 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night - Wind: variable at 5 knots - Visibility: 2 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 500 ft broken - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: ITH ## 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 20020915037659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020915037659A), Sep 15, 2002: Cessna 421C, Ithaca, NY, Substantial damage. (-23) On Sunday, September 15, 2002 at 1947 EDT at the Tompkins County Airport (ith), Ithaca, NY, a CE-421-C aircraft, N23RL, piloted by rod lache, slid off… 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.