Event FTW95LA382

Factual narrative

On September 7, 1995, at 1526 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 421B, N5368J, sustained substantial damage during the landing flare/touchdown at Albuquerque International Airport, Albuquerque, New Mexico. The airline transport rated pilot, three passengers, and one infant did not receive injuries. The airplane was being operated as a personal flight under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated in Boise, Idaho, at 1150. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the destination airport and an IFR flight plan was filed. During interviews, conducted by the investigator-in-charge, and on the Pilot/Operator Report, the pilot reported the following information. When the airplane was on final for runway 08, the controller requested "S" turns for spacing to allow for an F-14 departure. At a one mile final, N5368J was "cleared to land, caution wake turbulence." During the landing touchdown, on the right main gear, the airplane "veered a hard left as if caught in the turbulence of the F-14." The Cessna departed the left side of the runway, collapsed the nose gear, skidded and came to rest on taxiway "A". The pilot stated that winds at the airport were from "110 degrees at 15 knots gusting to 20 knots." Examination of the airplane and the site was conducted by the FAA inspector. He reported structural damage to the fuselage, nose gear, and propeller. The inspector reported (diagram enclosed) that the touchdown point was 2,900 feet from the approach end of runway 08 and the airplane departed the left side of the runway at approximately 3,200 feet from the touchdown end. During a telephone interview, conducted by the investigator-in- charge, and on the enclosed statement, the F-14 crew reported the following information. The F14 takeoff weight was 63,000 pounds with a the rotation point at 4,000 feet and a rotation speed of 135 knots. Each engine produced approximately 17,000 pounds of thrust and the flaps were set at 10 degrees. A review of the Albuquerque Air Traffic Control Tower data revealed that at 1524:56 the F-14 was cleared for takeoff, and at 1525:31, N5368J was cleared to land. The Cessna was over the approach end of runway 08 at 1526:01, and the F14 was 1.5 nautical miles beyond the departure end of the 13,775 foot runway. The Albuquerque surface weather observation at 1450 reported the winds from 130 degrees at 9 knots. THE FLIGHT WAS CLEARED TO LAND ON RUNWAY 08 BEHIND A DEPARTING F-14, AND THE PILOT WAS CAUTIONED FOR WAKE TURBULENCE. DURING LANDING THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, COLLAPSED THE NOSE GEAR, SKIDDED AND CAME TO REST ON A TAXIWAY. THE PILOT REPORTED WINDS FROM 110 DEGREES AT 15 GUSTING TO 20 KNOTS. NATIONAL WEATHER OBSERVATION DATA REPORTED THE WINDS FROM 130 DEGREES AT 9 KNOTS. WHEN THE CESSNA WAS OVER THE APPROACH END OF RUNWAY 08, THE F-14 WAS 1.5 NAUTICAL MILES BEYOND THE DEPARTURE END OF THE 13,775-FOOT RUNWAY. THE ROTATION POINT OF THE F-14 WAS 4,000 FEET FROM THE APPROACH END OF RUNWAY 08, AND THE TOUCHDOWN POINT OF THE CESSNA WAS 2,900 FEET. THE ATC TIME OF THE F-14 DEPARTURE WAS 1524:56; THE CESSNA WAS OVER THE APPROACH END OF RUNWAY 08 AT 1526:01. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12