Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Ithaca, New York 14850
Sunday, September 15, 2002 19:47 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

While executing an instrument approach, the airplane was in instrument meteorological conditions until reaching about 700 feet agl. Once clear of the clouds, it was lightly raining, there was no turbulence, and both pilots could clearly see the airport. The pilot was advised by the tower controller that it was raining heavily at the airport. The pilot selected landing flaps, and slowed the airplane to approximately 100 knots. The intensity of the rain increased, and the airplane touched down "smoothly" near the runway aiming point and "slightly" left of centerline. The pilot lowered the nose, and "lightly" applied the brakes. The airplane started to hydroplane, yaw left, and then exited the left side of the runway. The airplane slid several hundred feet, and was substantially damaged before it came to a stop. Examination of the wreckage revealed no preimpact failures or malfunctions.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. A factor in the accident was the wet runway.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/15/2002
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1947
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Ithaca
Event State NEW YORK
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 14850
Event Date Year 2002
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 422928N
Event Location Longitude 0762731W
Event Location Airport Ithaca Tompkins Regional
Event Location Nearest Airport ID ITH
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 1099
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1850 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID ITH
Elevation of weather observation facility 1099
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Night
Lowest Ceiling Height 500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 2
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 20
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 19
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.03
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Moderate
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 5
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 13720
NTSB Notification Source EROC
NTSB Notification Date Sep 16 2002 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 948
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jul 23 2003 8:35AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Rochester

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N23RL
NTSB Number NYC02LA190
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 421
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 421C-1094
Certified Max Gross Weight 7560
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 8
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 1 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 54
Airframe Hours 3585
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Tiger Aviation, LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 44 Westmount Drive
Aircraft Owner City Livingston
Aircraft Owner State NJ
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 07039
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code MMU
Departure City Morristown
Departure State NJ
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1845
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code ITH
Destination City Ithaca
Destination State NY
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing - roll
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record May 19 2003 10:23AM
User who most recently changed record PEAR
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 32
Runway Length 6601
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --