N5286Z

On August 17, 2001, at 1015 central daylight time, a Cessna 421B, twin-engine airplane, N5286Z, sustained substantial damage during a hard landing on runway 13 at the New Braunfels Municipal Airport, New Braunfels, Texas. The airplane was owned and operated by the pilot under Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The private pilot, a pilot rated passenger, and two other passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross-country flight, and a flight plan was not filed. The personal flight departed Duncan, Oklahoma, at 0900.

The pilot reported to the FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, that during the crosswind landing, the airplane touched down "hard." Subsequently, the airplane veered to the right, collapsed the right main landing gear, and came to rest with the right wing resting in the dirt off the side of the runway.

The FAA inspector found tire marks, gouges, and propeller slash marks in the asphalt runway to the left of the centerline. The structural components of the right main landing gear wheel well were twisted and buckled, and the right wing skin was wrinkled and buckled. The right fuel tip tank was found separated at the aft attachment point. When the aircraft was recovered from the runway, the extension mechanisms, for both main landing gear and the nose landing gear, were found in the "down and locked" position.

At 0915 and 1025, the weather observation facility at New Braunfels, reported the wind from 200 degrees at 11 knots.

Numerous attempts to obtain a completed Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) were unsuccessful.