# NTSB NYC89FA092: Cessna S550, N29X, Poughkeepsie, NY, February 27, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: February 27, 1989, 08:08 local (13:08 UTC)
- Place: Poughkeepsie, NY
- Coordinates: 41.679714, -73.859405 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.6797&lon=-73.8594&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 8, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36273
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC89FA092
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36273/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC89FA092

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF THE POWERPLANT CONTROLS, WHICH RESULTED IN ACTUATION (TRIPPING) OF THE REVERSE LOAD LIMITERS ON THE THRUST REVERSERS AND SUBSEQUENT REDUCTION OF AVAILABLE POWER IN BOTH ENGINES.  FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S MISJUDGEMENT OF DISTANCE, EXCESSIVE AIRSPEED, AND IMPROPER FLARE DURING THE LANDING.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, landing - aborted
  - all engines
  - distance - misjudged, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - excessive, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - recovery from bounced landing - initiated, pilot in command
  - thrust reverser - popped/tripped (cause)
  - powerplant controls - improper use of, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - aborted
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven

## Analysis

WITNESSES RPRTD ACFT WAS HI DRG APCH & LNDD NOSEWHEEL 1ST ABT 1600' BYD THRESHOLD, THEN BCM AIRBORNE & BOUNCED 2 TIMES. PLT STATED THAT BFR TCHDWN, HE STARTED TO 'SPOOL UP' ENGS, BUT NOTED LACK OF RESPONSE, THEN RETARDED THROTTLES & LNDD. HE SAID HE APPLIED BRAKES & SELECTED 'FULL REVERSE' & NOTED NO RESPONSE. RPRTDLY, NOSEWHEEL 'SKIPPED INTO AIR' WHILE ACFT STILL HAD FLYING SPEED. WITH INSUFFICIENT RWY RMNG TO STOP, HE ELECTED TO STOW REVERSERS & BGN GO-ARND. HE NOTED NO RESPONSE FM ENGS, THO ACFT HAD BCM AIRBORNE. ACFT THEN SETTLED BYD DEP END OF RWY & CRASHED ON ROUGH TRRN. EXAM REVEALED ENGS HAD INGESTED TWIGS, GRASS & DIRT. REVERSE LOAD LIMITERS (L/L) ON BOTH ENGS WERE FND IN TRIPPED PSN. FLT MAN STATED THAT TO AVOID ACTUATION OF L/L, DO NOT ADVANCE PRIMARY THROTTLE AFTER RTRNG REVERSE THRUST LEVER TO STOW UNTIL UNLOCK LIGHT IS OUT; MAINT REQUIRED TO RESET ACTUATED L/L. L/L WAS INCORPORATED ON THRUST REVERSER TO REDUCE ENG PWR TO IDLE, IF INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED IN FLT. DRG POST-ACDNT CHK, BOTH ENGS WERE OPERD TO 85% AFTER L/L RESET.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N29X (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA S550
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: S550-0096
- Airframe hours: 703
- Engines: P&W JT15D-4B 2500 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Ferry, Part 91
- Operator: Executive Air Fleet
- Registered owner: Nynex Corporation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, June 29, 1988, 143 hours before
- Departed: HPN, WHITE PLAINS, NY
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: POU, Dutches County, runway 24, 5,001 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 6,135 total, 635 in this make and model, 2,080 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 27 °F, dew point 23 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: POU

## 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 19890227002779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890227002779A), Feb 27, 1989: Cessna S550, Poughkeepsie, NY, Destroyed. Too high and fast tried go around but misuse of thrust reversers caused flameouts. Crashed off end of runway.

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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