# NTSB WPR21LA345: Cessna 340, N419TT, Rock Springs, WY, July 24, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: July 24, 2021, 13:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place: Rock Springs, WY · airport
- Coordinates: 41.594222, -109.06519
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5942&lon=-109.0652&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 103877
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR21LA345
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103877/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103877
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA345

## Probable cause

The pilot’s improper pitch control during takeoff which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and subsequent hard landing

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 340, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2076404), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 340, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=2076404), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 340, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=2076404), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 340, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=2076404), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md)
- [Temp/humidity/pressure: high density altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Cessna 340, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020/cases.md?model=2076404), [All aircraft, 278 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 340, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=2076404), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that, before takeoff he calculated the density altitude to be 9,700 ft. During takeoff, shortly after rotation, he “felt” that the airplane was slightly nose high and the stall warning horn aural alert activated, and the airplane began to shudder. The pilot then aborted the takeoff after he found it difficult to nose the airplane down to attain airspeed. About 10 ft above the ground, the airplane aerodynamically stalled and landed tail first then a hard bounce on the main landing gear. Subsequently, the right wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N419TT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N419TT-2022-12-23), registration cancelled 2022-12-23, S/N 340-0091, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 340
- Registry model: [Cessna 340](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-340) (registry code 2076404) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 340-0091
- Year built: 1972
- Airframe hours: 5634
- Engines: CONT MOTOR TSIO-520 - NB 335 horsepower reciprocating; CONT MOTOR TSIO-520 - NB 335 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 17, 2021
- Departed: KRKS, Rock Springs, WY
- Destination: KOSH, Oshkosh, WI
- Airport: KRKS, Southwest Wyoming Regional Airport, runway 09, 10,000 × 150 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Unknown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 56; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 8, 2021; seat: left; flight hours: 1,212 total, 189 in this make and model, 1,085 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter: 30.32 inHg
- Observed at: KRKS, 1 nm away
- METAR: METAR KRKS 241854Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 28/M03 A3032 RMK AO2

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 19, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103877. 7.5 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 7.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13775944&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR21LA345%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Damage estimate (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 71 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13771424&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N419TT%20Cessna%20340%20Estimate%20(002)_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Accident photo (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 77 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13775954&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photo%20LA345-Rel.pdf

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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