Cessna 421 Safety Record

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

326

All Events

152

Incidents

28

Minor

23

Serious

121

Fatal (342 fatalities)

Date Location Reg# Severity Damage Probable Cause
Jun 11, 1992 WINDOW ROCK, AZ N6115C Incident substantial Investigation pending
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.
Dec 05, 1991 WHEELING, IL N777RA Incident substantial THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING LANDING. A FACTOR CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE ICY RUNWAY.
Nov 29, 1991 SAN ANDREAS, CA N421DP Incident substantial THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION AND HIS FAILURE TO FOLLOW THE AIRPLANE'S CHECKLIST. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS THE DARK NIGHT CONDITION.
Oct 10, 1991 BATTLE CREEK, MI N100CA Incident substantial THE TOTAL FAILURE OF THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR'S DOWNLOCK LINK ASSEMBLY.
Aug 16, 1991 PAGOSA SPRINGS, CO N80RS Incident substantial INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT OF THE AIRCRAFT BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND. A FACTOR WAS: FAILURE OF THE PILOT IN COMMAND TO PROPERLY LATCH THE CARGO DOOR.
Aug 01, 1991 AUBURN, CA N98455 Incident substantial THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT WHILE LANDING.
Jul 17, 1991 COLORADO SPRING, CO N768RA Incident substantial A FRACTURED FUEL LINE AND AN IMPROPERLY PERFORMED ANNUAL INSPECTION.
May 01, 1991 ENGLEWOOD, CO N18DF Minor substantial POWER LOSS ON BOTH ENGINES AS A RESULT OF EXHAUST SYSTEM FAILURE.
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.
Mar 23, 1991 EL MONTE, CA N4071L Incident substantial THE PILOT RETRACTING THE LANDING GEAR DURING THE LANDING ROLL.
Mar 12, 1991 TUCSON, AZ N924MD Serious (3) substantial
THE FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE RIGHT ENGINE TURBO EXHAUST CLAMP, AND, THE FAILURE OF THE FLYING PILOT TO COMPLETE THE SINGLE ENGINE EMERGENCY PROCEDURES I…

THE FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE RIGHT ENGINE TURBO EXHAUST CLAMP, AND, THE FAILURE OF THE FLYING PILOT TO COMPLETE THE SINGLE ENGINE EMERGENCY PROCEDURES IN A TIMELY MANNER. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT IN COMMAND TO ADEQUATELY SUPERVISE THE CONDUCT OF THE FLIGHT.

Feb 25, 1991 FORT MORGAN, CO N125KS Incident minor THE TOTAL FAILURE OF THE FLIGHT COMPARTMENT WINDSHIELD (COPILOT'S SIDE) FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.
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.
Oct 07, 1990 MORGANFIELD, KY N69900 Incident substantial LOST OF POWER OF BOTH ENGINES DUE TO THE PILOT'S MISMANAGEMENT OF THE FUEL SYSTEM.
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.

Sep 22, 1990 POMPANO BEACH, FL N41JT Incident substantial
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO INITIATE A GO-AROUND DUE TO BEING HIGH ON FINAL APPROACH AND AS A RESULT, FAILURE TO ATTAIN THE CORRECT POINT OF TOUCHDOWN…

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO INITIATE A GO-AROUND DUE TO BEING HIGH ON FINAL APPROACH AND AS A RESULT, FAILURE TO ATTAIN THE CORRECT POINT OF TOUCHDOWN AND HIS EXCESSIVE APPLICATION OF BRAKES WHICH RESULTED IN FAILURE OF THE RIGHT MAIN TIRE AND LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL.

Aug 09, 1990 CONCORD, CA N76SH Incident substantial
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE CHECKLIST. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE TOTAL ELECTRICAL FAILURE FOR UNDETERMINED…

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE CHECKLIST. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE TOTAL ELECTRICAL FAILURE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS AND THE LANDING GEAR BEING UNLOCKED.

Aug 08, 1990 EL PASO, TX N469RJ Incident substantial THE PILOT'S IMPROPER SINGLE ENGINE EMERGENCY PROCEDURES.
Jul 18, 1990 LANCASTER, CA N6089X Incident substantial
THE ACCIDENT WAS ERODED IGNITION SPARK PLUG ELECTRODES AND MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL NEGLECTING TO ADJUST SPARK PLUG ELECTRODES AND MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL …

THE ACCIDENT WAS ERODED IGNITION SPARK PLUG ELECTRODES AND MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL NEGLECTING TO ADJUST SPARK PLUG ELECTRODES AND MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL NEGLECTING TO ADJUST SPARK PLUG GAP. THE ROUGH TERRAIN IN WHICH THE AIRCRAFT LANDED WAS A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT.

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.
Nov 28, 1989 CHESAPEAKE, VA N3359Q Minor destroyed THE PILOT MISJUDGED DISTANCE AND ALTITUDE TO THE RUNWAY, WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH TO LAND. THE LIGHT CONDITION AT DUSK WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
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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