# NTSB SEA08LA041: Cessna 551, N551GF, Coeur d'Alene, ID, December 3, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 2, 2007, 18:45 local (Dec 3, 2007, 02:45 UTC) - Place: Coeur d'Alene, ID - Coordinates: 47.774166, -116.819442 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.7742&lon=-116.8194&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 8 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 24, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 67197 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA08LA041 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67197/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA08LA041 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during landing roll out. Contributing to the accident was the slush contaminated runway and the crosswind weather conditions. ## 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 - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - slush covered (contributing factor) - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - light condition - dark night ## Analysis The airplane was landing at night on a runway contaminated with 2.5 inches of slush and a 60-degree left crosswind at 16 knots, gusting to 22 knots. After the airplane touched down, it immediately began hydroplaning to the right. The pilot attempted to correct by adding power to the right engine to regain directional control; however, the nose landing gear struck a concrete pad, which was supporting a lighted runway sign. The landing gear separated from the airplane and struck the leading edge of the left wing, which created an indentation and hole. The nose landing gear wheel well was structurally deformed, and required a major repair to rectify. Prior to landing, a vehicle had tested the runway’s braking action, and the pilot was informed that it was "POOR." ## Factual narrative On December 2, 2007, approximately 1845 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 551, N551GF, departed the runway during the landing roll at Coeur d'Alene Air Terminal (COE), Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. The airline transport pilot, airline transport second pilot, and six passengers were not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. CCM Aviation L.L.C. was operating the airplane under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross-country personal flight that originated from Henderson, Nevada, approximately 3 hours before the accident. An instrument flight rules flight plan had been filed and activated. The pilot reported to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector that he landed on runway 23. He said upon touchdown the airplane began hydroplaning to the right. He added power to the right engine to try and stay on the centerline, and regain directional control. The airplane continued drifting right until it struck a concrete pad that was supporting a lighted runway sign. The airplane came to rest approximately 90 degrees to the centerline, and 10 to 15 feet off the runway. Post accident examination of the airplane by an FAA inspector revealed that the nose landing gear separated from the airplane and impacted the leading edge of the left wing, which created an indentation and hole. Additionally, the nose gear wheel well was structurally deformed, which required a major repair to rectify. The pilot said that on approach to the airport, he was told that there was 3/4 inch of snow on the runway, and the wind was from 170 to 190 degrees at 16 knots, gusting to 22 knots. He was also told that braking had been tested by a vehicle, and was reported to be "NIL" on runway 01/10 and "POOR" on runway 05/23. After landing, he discovered that the runway had 2 1/2 inches of slush on it. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N551GF](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N551GF), registered now, S/N 551-0039, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 551 - Registry model: [Cessna 551](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-551) (registry code 2076605) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada JT15D-4 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-jt15d-4-series) (registry code 52112, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 551-0039 - Airframe hours: 4673 - Engines: Pratt and Whitney JT15D-4 2500 lbs thrust turbo fan; Pratt and Whitney JT15D-4 2500 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: CCM Aviation L.L.C. - Registered owner: CCM Aviation L.L.C. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, October 29, 2007 - Departed: HND, Henderson, NV - Destination: COE, Coeur d'Alene, ID - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: COE, Coeur d'Alene Air Terminal, runway 23, 7,400 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 72; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 14, 2006; seat: left; flight hours: 17,000 total, 3,000 in this make and model, 16,500 as pilot in command, 47 in the last 90 days, 28 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours - Co-pilot; injuries: none - Co-pilot; age 59; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport, flight engineer; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 7, 2007; seat: right; flight hours: 25,000 total, 49 in this make and model, 12,000 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 170° at 16 knots, gusting 29 - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,200 ft broken - Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 29.75 inHg - Observed at: COE ## 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 20071202828479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20071202828479A), Dec 2, 2007: Cessna 551, Coeur D'Alene, ID, Substantial damage. (-23) N551GF was cleared for the ILS runway 5 at coe. Upon acceptance of the clearance N551GF advised that he would be circling for runway 23 at coe. The pilot… 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.