How many accidents has the Cessna 421 had?

The NTSB has recorded 326 events involving the Cessna 421: 121 fatal, 23 serious, 28 minor injuries, and 152 incidents with no injuries.

Is the Cessna 421 a safe aircraft?

Safety depends on many factors beyond the aircraft model, including pilot training, maintenance, and weather conditions. The Cessna 421 has 326 NTSB-recorded events. Always review individual reports for context — many events involve pilot error or weather, not aircraft defects.

Cessna 421 Safety Record

Complete NTSB accident and incident history. 326 events recorded from 1982 to 2024.

326

All Events

152

Incidents

Minor

Serious

121

Fatal (342 fatalities)

Date	Location	Reg#	Severity	Damage	Probable Cause
Jan 08, 2024	Carson City, NV	N421TP	Incident	substantial	Airport personnel’s failure to properly prioritize their response actions, including updating the airport’s automated weather observation system recor… Airport personnel’s failure to properly prioritize their response actions, including updating the airport’s automated weather observation system recording in a timely manner to notify incoming pilots of a runway closure, which resulted in an airplane striking an immobilized airplane on the runway during landing at night. Contributing to the accident was the airport’s inadequate emergency response plan.
Dec 08, 2023	McGregor, TX	N146TJ	Incident	substantial	The failure of the spring pin in the right propeller governor, which precluded the pilot from controlling the propeller pitch to maintain engine rpm, … The failure of the spring pin in the right propeller governor, which precluded the pilot from controlling the propeller pitch to maintain engine rpm, resulting in a loss of engine thrust, excessive drag, and the subsequent forced landing to a field.
Nov 11, 2023	Lake City, FL	N977SM	Incident	substantial	A landing gear collapse following an aborted takeoff due to degraded climb performance for reasons that could not be determined.
Jun 24, 2023	Rockport, TX	N123SM	Incident	substantial	The failure of the left engine starter adapter gear, which resulted in catastrophic damage to other engine components, and the subsequent loss of engi… The failure of the left engine starter adapter gear, which resulted in catastrophic damage to other engine components, and the subsequent loss of engine power.
Apr 05, 2023	Leesburg, VA	N880JS	Incident	substantial	Separation of the left man landing gear scissor hardware, which resulted in a loss of directional control and subsequent runway excursion during landi… Separation of the left man landing gear scissor hardware, which resulted in a loss of directional control and subsequent runway excursion during landing.
May 15, 2022	Monroe, LA	N619AC	Incident	substantial	The failure of the maintenance personnel to properly reinstall the elevator trim tab hardware, which resulted in an in-flight separation of the elevat… The failure of the maintenance personnel to properly reinstall the elevator trim tab hardware, which resulted in an in-flight separation of the elevator.
Mar 12, 2021	Franklin, NC	N80056	Incident	substantial	The reason for this accident could not be determined based on the available information.
Jun 09, 2019	Moriarty, NM	N421WL	Incident	substantial	The pilot's improper landing flare in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in a hard landing.
Feb 10, 2019	Woodruff, WI	N581CJ	Incident	substantial	The pilot's failure to maintain to directional control during takeoff from a snow-covered runway with a right, quartering tailwind, which resulted in … The pilot's failure to maintain to directional control during takeoff from a snow-covered runway with a right, quartering tailwind, which resulted in a runway excursion and impact with a snowbank.
Jul 01, 2018	Clifton, TX	N7625Q	Incident	substantial	The pilot's improper landing flare in crosswind conditions, which resulted in a hard landing.
May 21, 2018	Sandersville, GA	N427JM	Incident	substantial	A nose landing gear collapse for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.
Jun 22, 2017	Carlsbad, CA	N380AL	Incident	substantial	The right main landing gear collapse for undetermined reasons.
Jan 07, 2017	Jackson, CA	N71RC	Incident	substantial	The failure of the right main landing gear torque link bolt in overstress, which resulted in the collapse of the landing gear during the landing roll.
Apr 13, 2016	Death Valley, CA	N21SG	Incident	substantial	A runway overrun for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.
Oct 14, 2015	Amarillo, TX	N19CH	Incident	substantial	The loss of directional control during taxi to the runway as a result of insufficient brake fluid level in the right brake master cylinder, resulting … The loss of directional control during taxi to the runway as a result of insufficient brake fluid level in the right brake master cylinder, resulting in a taxiway excursion and collision with a drainage culvert.
May 24, 2014	Dallas, TX	N936U	Incident	substantial	The improper rigging of the landing gear by maintenance personnel, which resulted in the landing gear collapse.
Apr 22, 2014	Horseshoe Bay, TX	N866BS	Incident	substantial	The failure of the drive mechanism for the gearbox motor, which resulted in the gear not extending for the landing.
Mar 20, 2014	Charleston, SC	N5929M	Incident	substantial	Inadequate maintenance, which resulted in the collapse of the right main landing gear during landing.
May 01, 2013	Oakland, CA	N216WA	Incident	substantial	A failure of the left main landing gear pivot bolt in overstress during landing.
Mar 27, 2013	Amarillo, TX	N805DC	Incident	substantial	Maintenance personnel's failure to detect the misadjustment of the left landing gear actuator's switch after recent maintenance, which prevented the l… Maintenance personnel's failure to detect the misadjustment of the left landing gear actuator's switch after recent maintenance, which prevented the landing gear from locking in the extended position and resulted in the landing gear collapsing during landing.
Sep 29, 2012	Selma, AL	N1537T	Incident	substantial	The pilot’s improper fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power on the right engine and a partial loss of engine power on the lef… The pilot’s improper fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power on the right engine and a partial loss of engine power on the left engine due to fuel starvation.
Sep 11, 2012	Kenedy, TX	N5534G	Incident	substantial	The pilot’s improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent collapse of the landing gear.
Dec 09, 2011	Pampa, TX	N421CE	Incident	substantial	The pilot's inadequate aircraft control during landing, which resulted in a hard landing.
May 02, 2011	Truckee, CA	N270CS	Incident	—	Fatigue failure of the right flap extend cable during the landing approach.
Jun 04, 2010	Anderson, IN	N421KB	Incident	substantial	The pilot’s failure to establish proper rotation and liftoff speed during the takeoff roll.

Disclaimer: This data is sourced from the NTSB Aviation Accident Database. NTSB events reflect reported accidents and incidents and do not necessarily indicate a defect in the aircraft type. Many events involve pilot error, weather conditions, maintenance issues, or other factors unrelated to the aircraft design. This information is provided for research purposes only — consult official NTSB reports for complete details.

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Cessna 421 Safety Record

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