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GAA19CA143

2019-02-10 · Woodruff, Wisconsin, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport ARV

Current FAA registration · N581CJ

Make / Model
CESSNA 421B
Engine
CONT MOTOR GTSI0-520-F-K (435 hp)
Seats / Engines
8 seats · 2 engines
Last airworthiness date
19730212
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A779DA

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's failure to maintain to directional control during takeoff from a snow-covered runway with a right, quartering tailwind, which resulted in a runway excursion and impact with a snowbank.

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that, during the takeoff roll on a plowed, snow-covered runway for an instrument flight, he could "feel the [airplane] pulling to the right" and corrected with opposite rudder but the airplane slowly exited the runway to the right and impacted a snowbank. The twin-engine airplane sustained substantial damage to both propellers and the right engine mount. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation station located on the airport reported that, about 5 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 110° at 5 knots, 1 1/4 statute mile visibility, overcast at 900 ft, temperature 18°F, dew point 12°F, and light snow. The airplane departed on runway 36. The pilot reported that, during the takeoff roll on a plowed, snow-covered runway, he could "feel the [airplane] pulling to the right" and corrected with opposite rudder, but the airplane slowly exited the runway to the right and impacted a snowbank. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both propellers and the right engine mount. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airport's automated weather observation station reported that, about 5 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 110° at 5 knots, 1 1/4 statute miles visibility, overcast at 900 ft, temperature 18°F, dew point 12°F, and light snow. The airplane departed from runway 36. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained - C
  • C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
  • — Environmental issues-Physical environment-Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface-Snow/slush/ice covered surface-Effect on operation
  • — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Tailwind-Effect on operation

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2019_GAA19CA143.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

Related research

Matched on aircraft type or causal vocabulary (runway excursion). All research papers