Pilot Said He Was Unaware Of The Airplane Blocking The Runway Until He Heard A “Thump” During Landing

Location: Carson City, NV Accident Number: WPR24LA068
Date & Time: January 7, 2024, 20:19 Local Registration: N421TP
Aircraft: Cessna 421C Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

On January 7, 2024, at 2019 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 421C, N421TP, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Carson City, Nevada. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal  Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast (ADS-B) data showed that a Piper PA-46, N819RL, landed at Carson City Airport (CXP), Nevada at 1826. The airplane subsequently departed the runway due to icy runway conditions, spun 180° and came to rest  adjacent to the active runway with the left wing partially blocking the runway. The pilot contacted Flight Service shortly after that incident to notify them that the runway was partially obstructed. At 1913 Flight Service issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) stating there was an unsafe disabled aircraft affecting runway 09/27 at CXP and notified the airport. The airport manager requested Flight Service to issue a NOTAM that the runway was closed. A NOTAM stating the runway was closed was issued at 1925.

The pilot of N421TP reported that he flew from CXP to Van Nuys Airport (VNY), California earlier on January 7th. He refueled at VNY and then departed for CXP about 1820 on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan. The pilot coordinated with air traffic control (ATC) to fly an instrument approach to Minden-Tahoe Airport (MEV) and then cancelled IFR enroute and continued the flight under Visual Flight Rules. The pilot noted that he checked the AWOS at CXP while enroute and neither ATC or AWOS provided information that the runway at CXP was closed. The pilot said he was unaware of the airplane blocking the runway until he heard a “thump” during landing. The left winglet on the landing Cessna 421 impacted the left wing of the PA-46, substantially damaging the Cessna 421’s left aileron. 

FMI: www.ntsb.gov