Accident Overview
On November 12, 2011, at approximately 1635 central standard time, a Cessna 401A, registration N531MH, was substantially damaged while landing at the Gladewater Municipal Airport (07F) in Gladewater, Texas. The private pilot and three passengers sustained minor injuries, and the fourth passenger was seriously injured. The aircraft was registered to and operated by the pilot.
Flight Details
The flight originated from Natchitoches Regional Airport (IER) in Natchitoches, Louisiana, around 1550. It was operating under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal cross-country flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan had been filed.
While preparing to enter the traffic pattern at 1,800 feet above ground level, the pilot checked wind information using his Garmin 696 with NEXRAD and also heard a wind update on the radio from the nearest weather facility. The pilot understood the current wind to be from 170 degrees at between 20 and 25 knots. He entered the pattern on a left downwind for runway 14 and began to slow the airplane.
The pilot reported being on short final at an airspeed of about 120 knots when a gusting crosswind pushed the airplane approximately 30 feet to the right of the runway centerline, and it began to descend very quickly. He decided to perform a go-around maneuver and added full engine power. As power was added, the twin-engine airplane began to roll to the right. The pilot then elected to reduce engine power and land. The airplane impacted and exited the runway before coming to rest upright.
Weather Information
At 1553, the aviation routine weather report at East Texas Regional Airport in Longview, Texas, about 16 nautical miles southeast of the accident location, reported wind from 170 degrees at 16 knots, gusting to 23 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, few clouds at 4,900 feet above ground level, temperature 23 degrees Celsius, dew point 13 degrees Celsius, and an altimeter setting of 29.92 inches of mercury. At 1530, the weather station recorded a peak wind gust of 27 knots from 190 degrees.
Post-Accident Examination
Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board, the Federal Aviation Administration, Cessna Aircraft Co., and Continental Motors, Inc., conducted a post-accident examination of the airplane and its engines. The examination revealed substantial damage to the fuselage, empennage, wings, and landing gear. No preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures were found that would have precluded normal operation.