NYC94LA084

Factual narrative

On Tuesday, May 3, 1994, at 1430 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 421A, N2211W, registered to David C. Prince and piloted by David M. Yates, sustained substantial damage during a landing at the Tazewell County Airport, Richlands, Virginia. The pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot performed a landing on runway 07. He said that the approach and landing were "normal." After touchdown, the nose wheel started to "shimmy." He stated that he applied more back pressure on the control wheel to relieve the shimmy and then experienced difficulty maintaining directional control. The pilot reported that the winds were light, but there was some turbulence during the approach. Inspectors from the Federal Aviation Administration examined the airplane and observed both wing spars were "bent down and the wings were drooping." In a report, Inspector James H. Pool stated: Investigation...revealed evidence and aircraft damage consistent with hard landing impact with runway surface. The pilot has minimal flight experience in Cessna 421 model aircraft. The pilot reported that his total flight time in the Cessna 421 was 6 hours. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE APPROACH WAS NORMAL. HE REPORTED: 'UPON TOUCHDOWN THE NOSE VIBRATED AND WENT FAR BELOW THE NORMAL POSITION. I QUICKLY APPLIED FULL BACK PRESSURE ON THE CONTROL YOKE AND THE MAINS FELL BACK TO THE RUNWAY.' FAA INSPECTORS REPORTED: 'INVESTIGATION...REVEALED EVIDENCE AND AIRCRAFT DAMAGE CONSISTENT WITH HARD LANDING IMPACT WITH RUNWAY SURFACE. PILOT HAD MINIMAL FLIGHT EXPERIENCE IN [THIS] MODEL AIRCRAFT.' BOTH WINGS WERE OBSERVED TO BE BENT DOWN DURING THE EXAMINATION BY THE FAA INSPECTORS. THE PILOT HAD A TOTAL OF 6 HOURS IN THIS MODEL AIRPLANE. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12