Cessna 421 Safety Record
Complete NTSB accident and incident history. 326 events recorded from 1982 to 2024.
| Date | Location | Reg# | Severity | Damage | Probable Cause |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 29, 1993 | VALLEY PARK, MO | N4939M | Fatal (2) | destroyed |
IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION, DUE TO AN INADEQUATE SUPPLY OF FUEL, AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN C…IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION, DUE TO AN INADEQUATE SUPPLY OF FUEL, AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING APPROACH TO AN EMERGENCY LANDING. A RELATED FACTOR WAS: FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO REFUEL THE AIRPLANE BEFORE FLIGHT. |
| Mar 12, 1993 | EAGLE MOUNTAIN, CA | N2656N | Fatal (3) | destroyed |
FAILURE OF THE LEFT ELEVATOR FOR UNDETERMINED REASON(S), WHICH RESULTED IN FLUTTER AND FAILURE OF THE EMPENNAGE, AND SUBSEQUENT UNCONTROLLED COLLISION…FAILURE OF THE LEFT ELEVATOR FOR UNDETERMINED REASON(S), WHICH RESULTED IN FLUTTER AND FAILURE OF THE EMPENNAGE, AND SUBSEQUENT UNCONTROLLED COLLISION WITH THE TERRAIN. |
| Dec 13, 1992 | WILSONVILLE, OR | N98489 | Fatal (2) | destroyed | THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. |
| Jun 24, 1992 | MONTEREY, CA | N628RJ | Fatal (3) | destroyed |
THE OWNER/PILOT'S POOR JUDGEMENT IN ATTEMPTING AN OPERATION BEYOND HIS EXPERIENCE AND ABILITY, WHICH RESULTED IN HIS FAILURE TO ATTAIN AN ADEQUATE CLI…THE OWNER/PILOT'S POOR JUDGEMENT IN ATTEMPTING AN OPERATION BEYOND HIS EXPERIENCE AND ABILITY, WHICH RESULTED IN HIS FAILURE TO ATTAIN AN ADEQUATE CLIMB PROFILE NECESSARY FOR TERRAIN CLEARANCE. ALSO, THE OWNER/PILOT LACKED INSTRUMENT EXPERIENCE, AND WAS OVERCONFIDENT IN HIS ABILITY. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE HILLY TERRAIN AND WEATHER CONDITIONS. |
| Jan 13, 1992 | ATLANTIC OCEAN, AO | N40JK | Fatal (5) | destroyed |
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE WEATHER EVALUATION, AND HIS CONTINUED FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS. FACTORS WERE: THE IMPROPER WEATHER BRIEFING…THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE WEATHER EVALUATION, AND HIS CONTINUED FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS. FACTORS WERE: THE IMPROPER WEATHER BRIEFING BY A FLIGHT SERVICE STATION SPECIALIST, AND LEVEL III THUNDERSTORMS. |
| Jan 05, 1992 | MAMMOTH LAKES, CA | N2654M | Fatal (4) | destroyed |
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO PLAN AND CONDUCT HIS DEPARTURE FLIGHT TO AVOID HIGH MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN, DURING WHICH THE PILOT BECAME LOST/DISORIENTED. C…THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO PLAN AND CONDUCT HIS DEPARTURE FLIGHT TO AVOID HIGH MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN, DURING WHICH THE PILOT BECAME LOST/DISORIENTED. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS SELF INDUCED PRESSURE TO DEPART BEFORE THE ARRIVAL OF A SNOW STORM. |
| Jan 04, 1992 | STEAMBOAT SPGS, CO | N1974G | Fatal (3) | destroyed | AIRFRAME ICE AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO REMOVE IT. FACTORS WERE: AIRCRAFT WEIGHT EXCEEDED AND LACK OF PILOT CERTIFICATION. |
| Mar 29, 1991 | CORTEZ, CO | N3851C | Fatal (5) | destroyed | THE PILOT'S IMPROPER IFR PROCEDURES. FACTORS WERE: THE EXISTING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO OBTAIN A PREFLIGHT BRIEFING. |
| Jan 06, 1991 | MUSKOGEE, OK | N421H | Fatal (6) | destroyed |
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT, DUE TO SPATIAL DISORIENTATION. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: DARKNESS, ADVERSE WEATH…THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT, DUE TO SPATIAL DISORIENTATION. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: DARKNESS, ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, AND THE PILOT'S PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT FROM THE CHRONIC SINUS INFECTION. |
| Nov 09, 1990 | FLAMINGO, FL | N21ST | Fatal (3) | destroyed | AN UNDETERMINED AIRFRAME/COMPONENT/SYSTEM FAILURE/MALFUNCTION, WHICH RESULTED IN A FUEL FED FIRE IN THE LEFT WING. |
| Sep 25, 1990 | JEFFERSON, GA | N316MH | Fatal (3) | destroyed |
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO PERFORM THE CORRECT EMERGENCY PROCEDURES, WHEN CONFRONTED WITH A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN MINIMUM CON…FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO PERFORM THE CORRECT EMERGENCY PROCEDURES, WHEN CONFRONTED WITH A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN MINIMUM CONTROL SPEED (VMC), WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL. |
| Apr 01, 1990 | BOULDER, CO | N2655V | Fatal (2) | destroyed | A LOSS OF AIRPLANE CONTROL AS A RESULT CONTROL INTERFERENCE BY THE PASSENGER FOLLOWING A STRUGGLE BETWEEN THE PILOT AND THE PASSENGER. |
| Apr 01, 1989 | GREAT HARBOR, BF | N4470L | Fatal (1) | destroyed | Investigation pending |
| Mar 29, 1989 | BROWNSVILLE, TX | N4595L | Fatal (1) | destroyed |
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER EMERGENCY PROCEDURE AFTER LOSSING POWER IN THE RIGHT ENGINE, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN MINIMUM CONTROL SPEED (VMC), WHICH RESUL…THE PILOT'S IMPROPER EMERGENCY PROCEDURE AFTER LOSSING POWER IN THE RIGHT ENGINE, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN MINIMUM CONTROL SPEED (VMC), WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: FUEL STARVATION OF THE RIGHT ENGINE, THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THIS TYPE OF AIRCRAFT, AND HIS LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF THE FUEL SYSTEM. |
| Nov 16, 1988 | TOOELE, UT | N222BL | Fatal (2) | substantial | Investigation pending |
| Nov 02, 1988 | CABAZON, CA | N3385Q | Fatal (1) | destroyed |
THE PILOT'S POOR DECISION AND MISJUDGEMENT OF DISTANCE. THE SEPARATION OF THE CYLINDER, FAILURE OF THE PROPELLER TO FEATHER, AND IMPACT WITH WIRES AND…THE PILOT'S POOR DECISION AND MISJUDGEMENT OF DISTANCE. THE SEPARATION OF THE CYLINDER, FAILURE OF THE PROPELLER TO FEATHER, AND IMPACT WITH WIRES AND A RESIDENCE WERE FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT. |
| Jul 14, 1988 | TAUNTON, MA | N825DW | Fatal (1) | destroyed | Investigation pending |
| Jun 09, 1988 | KNOXVILLE, TN | N700SC | Fatal (1) | destroyed | Investigation pending |
| May 29, 1988 | SHAVER LAKE, CA | N98683 | Fatal (4) | destroyed |
INFLIGHT ENCOUNTER WITH FORCASTED SEVERE ICING AND TURBULENCE BEYOND THE CAPABILITY OF EITHER THE AIRCRAFT OR THE PILOT , WHICH LED TO AN INFLGIHT LOS…INFLIGHT ENCOUNTER WITH FORCASTED SEVERE ICING AND TURBULENCE BEYOND THE CAPABILITY OF EITHER THE AIRCRAFT OR THE PILOT , WHICH LED TO AN INFLGIHT LOSS OF CONTROL. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE THE PILOTS LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF HIGH ALTITUDE FLIGHT ASPECTS AND METEROLOGICAL PHENOMENA. |
| Apr 04, 1988 | FREEPORT, BF | N42A | Fatal (5) | — | Investigation pending |
| Mar 26, 1988 | ALBUQUERQUE, NM | CGVDG | Fatal (2) | destroyed | Investigation pending |
| Feb 04, 1988 | HELENA, MT | N517S | Fatal (3) | destroyed | Investigation pending |
| Dec 11, 1987 | HILTON HEAD ISL, SC | N777RC | Fatal (2) | destroyed | Investigation pending |
| Oct 07, 1987 | DELAND, FL | N8043Q | Fatal (5) | destroyed | Investigation pending |
| Sep 02, 1987 | CORAL SPRINGS, FL | N421DT | Fatal (1) | destroyed | Investigation pending |