N26585

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On September 23, 1999, at 0703 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 421C, N26585, landed hard and subsequently caught fire while landing at the Santa Monica Airport, Santa Monica, California. The airplane, operated by River Transportation, LLC, was substantially damaged. The airline transport pilot suffered minor injuries. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 as a corporate/executive transportation flight. The flight originated from Long Beach, California, about 0640, was making a planned stop in Santa Monica with the intent of picking up a passenger, and had a final destination of San Luis Obispo, California. An instrument flight rules (IFR) tower en route clearance was obtained for the flight leg from Long Beach to Santa Monica, and an IFR flight plan was filed for the flight leg from Santa Monica to San Luis Obispo. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed.

The pilot reported that he was flying the VOR-A approach to runway 21 at Santa Monica. He descended through the clouds about 850 feet agl and saw the airport approximately 1 to 2 miles ahead. He noticed that he was left of the runway centerline and corrected to the right. He realized that he had overcorrected and turned back to the left. The pilot reported that he felt that the approach was stabilized, although the descent rate was greater than usual. The airplane impacted the runway about 1,000 feet from the approach end of the runway abeam the air traffic control tower on an approximate heading of 185 degrees. A fire immediately ensued. The airplane continued forward about another 1,000 feet down the runway, while still engulfed in flames, and came to rest approximately midfield on the runway. The pilot stated that the fire appeared to be involved on both the left and right sides of the aircraft. After the airplane came to a stop, the pilot exited the aircraft on his own via the cabin door.

The pilot stated that he had not experienced any mechanical problems with the aircraft or the navigation equipment prior to the accident.

Witnesses who were working on the airport grounds at the time of the accident reported that they observed the airplane making lateral corrections to line up with the runway centerline. They reported that when the airplane was over the runway, it banked left and then "dropped," losing altitude very quickly. Two of the witnesses reported specifically that they noted that the landing gear were down during the approach.

The pilot was interviewed by the Safety Board investigator. He stated that he was familiar with the VOR-A approach into Santa Monica, although he had only done it three or four times in actual instrument conditions. He stated that he usually began the approach from the north instead of from the south.

PERSONNEL INFORMATION

According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airman certification database, the pilot held an airline transport pilot certificate with single engine land, multiengine land, and instrument ratings. The FAA airman medical certification database revealed that the pilot held a first-class medical, dated June 18, 1999, with the following limitation: "must wear corrective lenses." The pilot's logbook reflected that his most recent flight review was on May 16, 1999, during which he demonstrated proficiency in a CE550 simulator.

The pilot reported that he had 4,050 hours of total flight time, including 2,150 hours in the accident make and model. He also had 172 hours of actual instrument flight time, and 56 hours of simulated instrument time.

AIRCRAFT INFORMATION

The airplane was a Cessna 421C, N26585, serial number 421C00832. A review of the airplane's logbooks revealed the aircraft had last received an annual inspection on March 2, 1999. The aircraft had flown 122.5 hours since the annual inspection at the time of the accident. The pilot stated that a VOT test had been performed within the past 30 days.

WRECKAGE AND IMPACT

According to witnesses, the airplane impacted the runway in a right wing down and nose down attitude. The right landing gear hit the VASI light. There were long indentations and drag marks from the landing gear strut. There was a deep indentation from the left landing gear, and a drag mark from the strut or gear piece. A spray pattern was observed from the end of the left tire mark along with melted asphalt. A sooting pattern was noted in line with the landing gear.

Also at the initial impact site, there were two series of ground scars, perpendicular to the initial impact scar. There were five scars on the left side and three on the right side. The series of scars was about 17 1/2 feet apart. The three-view drawing for the Cessna 421C reflects that the distance between the two propellers is 17.38 feet. The drawing also indicates that the normal propeller tip to ground clearance is 0.71 inches.

Debris from the aircraft was strewn along the runway from the initial impact site to the main wreckage. A charred piece of the airplane's belly antenna was located next to the broken runway light. Continuing along the path were a brake pad, right landing gear door, parts from a brake and undercarriage assembly, ADF antenna, a piece of propeller blade hub, and other small pieces identified to be from the airplane.

Extensive thermal destruction of the left cabin and wing section was noted. The right side showed burn damage around the engine and trailing edge portion of the wing. The right aileron was partially burned away along with an area of the engine nacelle. The left wing exhibited more fire damage and discoloration than the right wing. The left aileron, trailing edge section of the engine nacelle, and a section of the flaps were burned away.

The left wing fuel tank was found disintegrated. Both fuel selector handles in the cockpit were found in the left tank position.

Both engines were intact, and both sets of propeller blades exhibited chordwise striations and aft curling.

The right main landing gear was torn from the trunnion mounts and had pushed upwards through the engine nacelle. The left main landing gear trunnion remained attached but the strut was torn from its mounts. The right landing gear trunnions were bent downward and the clevice fittings were torn from the strut. The strut was shoved up through the nacelle. The left landing gear failed outboard.

The right landing gear downlock was secured. The wheel and trunnion had twisted about 90 degrees from the actuator piston. The gear door was separated. The exposed piston in the actuator assembly on the right gear measured 1 foot 2 3/4 inches.

Control cable continuity was established for all flight control surfaces to the cockpit.

The interior cockpit and cabin of the aircraft had sustained post impact fire and smoke damage. All seats, seat belts, and shoulder harnesses were intact. The mid-cabin seats were not scorched, but did exhibit burn damage. The emergency exit door was securely intact and functioned appropriately when opened.

AIDS TO NAVIGATION

The pilot reported that he was using the number 1 VOR to navigate the approach, and had the GPS set up as the secondary instrument. He reported that he had the 212-degree radial selected, with the heading bug set to that radial. He stated that he had not experienced any problems with any of the navigation equipment.

The FAA Airways inspector flew the VOR-A approach following the accident. He reported that there were no problems with the approach.

COMMUNICATIONS

The Southern California (SOCAL) Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) air traffic controller was interviewed by the Safety Board. He reported, that on the day of the accident, he first became aware of the accident airplane when the previous approach control sector initiated a handoff to him. He accepted the handoff and retrieved the flight strip for the aircraft, which contained information on the flight identification, beacon code, altitude, destination, and IFR/VFR status. The controller reported that he handled the aircraft in accordance with normal procedures for arrivals to Santa Monica airport. N26585 was the first arrival to Santa Monica that day, and was radar vectored to the VOR approach to runway 21. The controller stated that he had not noticed any indication of unusual winds aloft when vectoring other aircraft. He reported that he turned the airplane to a downwind heading of 040 or 050 degrees, then a base leg heading of 300 degrees, and a 230-degree heading to intercept the final approach course for runway 21. The ground tracks appeared to be consistent with the headings issued. His intention was to have the aircraft intercept the final approach course about 1 to 2 miles outside of Bevey intersection. He stated that according to FAA Order 7110.65, Air Traffic Control, the airplane should have been established on the final approach course at least 1 mile outside Bevey intersection for this approach. He reported that he would break an aircraft off the approach to make another approach for traffic reasons, pilot request, or if the approach looked bad. In this case, he stated that the aircraft appeared to be tracking direct to the VOR, and didn't seem to need another approach.

The pilot reported that he didn't have any concerns or problems with the headings the controller assigned to him. He further stated that he hadn't needed to make any wind corrections.

The controller noticed that the airplane was left of course and advised the pilot that he could turn another 10 degrees to the right to intercept if he needed. He then told the pilot to change over to the Santa Monica tower frequency. He stated that Santa Monica arrivals from the south are coordinated with the Burbank area, and the aircraft's data block is then forced onto the Santa Monica tower's DBRITE radar display in accordance with facility automated information transfer procedures.

According to Santa Monica air traf...