Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 560XL near Port Heiden, AK — 2008-04-30

Final reportANC08LA059
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Date
2008-04-30
Location
Port Heiden, AK, USA
Airport
PAPH
Aircraft
CESSNA 560XL
Registration
N590AK
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Landing

Probable cause

The flying pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while landing in a crosswind. A factor contributing to the accident was a crosswind.

NTSB narrative

The flightcrew was landing a twin-engine turbofan airplane on Runway 23, a 5,000-foot long, by 100-foot wide, gravel runway, which required a correction for right crosswind. The captain said that during touchdown he inadvertently applied a small amount of left rudder pedal input to correct for a right crosswind as the nose wheel touched down. The airplane veered sharply to the left and went off the left side of the runway. The left main landing gear collapsed, and the left wing struck the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. The captain reported that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. At the time of the accident, winds were reported to be 320 degrees, at 12 knots. The captain noted that the accident might have been prevented if the airplane had a nose wheel disconnect option.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Outfitting the airplane with a nose wheel disconnect option could have prevented the accident.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • CVR
  • 3 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents3

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