Tuesday, February 23, 2021

Cessna 421C Golden Eagle, N84HA: Accident occurred February 22, 2021 at St. Marys Municipal Airport (KOYM), Elk County, Pennsylvania

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. 

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident. 

Additional Participating Entity: 
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Wheels Up LLC


Location: St. Marys, PA 
Accident Number: ERA21LA134
Date & Time: February 22, 2021, 11:45 Local 
Registration: N84HA
Aircraft: Cessna 421 
Injuries: 1 Minor, 2 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Executive/Corporate

On February 22, 2021, at 1145 eastern standard time, a Cessna 421C, N84HA, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at St. Marys Municipal Airport (OYM), St. Marys, Pennsylvania. The airline transport pilot sustained minor injuries and the two passengers were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 corporate flight.

According to the pilot, while inbound to OYM, he believed the automated weather observation station reported the cloud conditions at 600 ft broken 1,000 ft overcast, and visibility 1.5 miles in snow. Prior to being cleared for the GPS approach to runway 28, air traffic control provided notices to airman (NOTAMS) regarding an inoperative remote communications outlet, and several lighted obstructions (towers) in the vicinity of the airport. He recalled these were the same NOTAMS that he had received prior to departure.

As he began the approach, he was able to “pick up ground contact” and just prior to reaching the minimum descent altitude, he saw the approach lights. As he flew over the approach lights, he could see the “outline of the runway.” On touchdown, the airplane struck a snow berm on the left side of the runway.

Examination of the accident site by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed “ground” scars in the snow to the left of the runway edge, beginning about 1,000 ft from the approach end of runway 28. The marks were about 250 ft long. One mark consistent with the fuselage began about 6 ft to the left of the left runway edge, in an estimated 3-4 ft tall snowbank that remained from plowing of the runway. A parallel mark consistent with landing gear was found to the left of the fuselage mark. Both marks tracked back to the right, toward the left edge of the runway as they progressed along the path. Photographs of the airplane prior to it being moved showed it at the end of the snow marks, oriented about 130° magnetic (rotated about 210° from the runway 28 heading). At the time of the accident, the runway was covered in snow estimated to be about 3-5 inches deep. The runway edge lights, and runway end identifier lights were beneath the snow.

Examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage including bending/displacement of the forward pressure bulkhead, buckling of the floor just forward of the pressure bulkhead, and a slight displacement of the left wing from the fuselage at the wing root. The pilot reported that there were no preexisting mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane.

A review of FAA records revealed that there were no NOTAMS regarding the snow on the runway, the obscuration of the runway lights, or any other field conditions issued prior to the accident.

The 1135 weather conditions reported at OYM included clouds broken at 700 ft, overcast at 1,100 ft, visibility ½ mile in light snow. The visibility was reported as ½ mile (in snow or light snow), during the previous observations recorded at 1115, 1055, and 1035.

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Cessna
Registration: N84HA
Model/Series: 421 C 
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: No
Operator:
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Operator Designator Code:

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: IMC 
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: OYM,1934 ft msl
Observation Time: 11:35 Local
Distance from Accident Site: 0 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: -2°C /-2°C
Lowest Cloud Condition:
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 7 knots / , 160°
Lowest Ceiling: Broken / 700 ft AGL 
Visibility: 0.5 miles
Altimeter Setting: 29.72 inches Hg 
Type of Flight Plan Filed: IFR
Departure Point: Bridgeport, CT (BDR) 
Destination: St. Marys, PA

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Minor
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 2 None
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A 
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Minor, 2 None 
Latitude, Longitude: 41.412288,-78.498793 (est)













ST. MARYS, Pennsylvania (WTAJ) — Crews were called to a small plane crashing at the south runway of St. Marys airport Monday morning.

According to dispatch, at least one of the three passengers was taken to the hospital. The extent of injuries and the cause of the crash is unknown at this time.

According to the FAA, a twin-engine Cessna 421 crashed on Runway 10 while landing at St. Marys Municipal Airport in Pennsylvania at 11:15 a.m. The FAA will investigate and has notified the National Transportation Safety Board. 

1 comment:

  1. That almost looks like the one that came through port Allegany the other day was really low and going sideways looked like they were having difficulties..

    ReplyDelete