Cessna 421B Golden Eagle II

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

N4470L

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

421B-0942

YOM:

1975

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances while landing at Hoffmans Cay Airport. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Crash of a Cessna 421B Golden Eagle II in San Antonio

Date & Time: Mar 3, 1989 at 0245 LT

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

C. M. Oldenburg

Registration:

N5999M

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Memphis - San Antonio

MSN:

421B-0242

YOM:

1972

Location:

San Antonio

Texas

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

732

Captain / Total hours on type:

34.00

Aircraft flight hours:

2897

Circumstances:

The airplane had made one approach, followed by a missed approach during a dark night with low ceilings and low visibility. During the next approach the airplane was high on the glide slope and touched down fast and long. The airplane hit the terrain 300 feet past the end of the runway, hit a second time 115 feet further down, then flew into the ils localizer. Part of the left wing burned. There were no indications of an attempted go-around.

Probable cause:

The failure of the pilot to follow the proper procedures/directives by not following the glideslope which resulted in not being able to attain the proper touchdown point.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 421B Golden Eagle II near Tooele: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 16, 1988 at 0110 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Arjay Medical

Registration:

N222BL

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Saint George - Salt Lake City

MSN:

421B-0824

YOM:

1974

Location:

Tooele Valley

Utah

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

6375

Aircraft flight hours:

2774

Circumstances:

The flight departed St. George, UT, at 0100 mst enroute to Salt Lake City (SLC). A flight plan was not filed. The weather forecast was for IMC with mountain tops obscured. The pilot requested flight following from SLC center and proceeded on the airways until about 40 miles south of SLC where radar contact was lost. Upon loss of radar contact, the controller asked the pilot what his altitude was. The pilot replied that he was at 10,500 feet. That was the last contact with the flight. After repeated attempts to reestablish contact, it was determined that the aircraft had gone down. A search was begun and the wreckage was found 30 miles southwest of SLC at the 9,500 feet level of a mountain. Both occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Occurrence #1: in flight collision with terrain/water
Phase of operation: cruise - normal
Findings
1. (f) light condition - dark night
2. (f) weather condition - snow
3. (f) weather condition - low ceiling
4. (f) terrain condition - mountainous/hilly
5. (c) in-flight planning/decision - improper - pilot in command
6. (c) became lost/disoriented - inadvertent - pilot in command
7. (c) proper altitude - not maintained - pilot in command
8. (c) flight into known adverse weather - attempted - pilot in command

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 421B Golden Eagle II near Knoxville: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 9, 1988 at 1203 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

David M. Bailie

Registration:

N700SC

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Indianapolis - Jacksonville

MSN:

421B-0910

YOM:

1975

Location:

Knoxville

Tennessee

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

435

Captain / Total hours on type:

250.00

Aircraft flight hours:

3516

Circumstances:

During an IFR flight at FL170, the pilot reported airframe icing and requested a higher altitude. The pilot climbed to FL210 where he started a descent and reported loss of manifold pressure in the left engine. The pilot indicated that weather was in his flight path and descent was required to avoid icing. 90 seconds later the pilot transmitted '...losing it...'. Radar data indicated aircraft had an inflight breakup at approximately 17,000 feet msl. There was no evidence of mechanical or structural malfunction prior to the breakup. The aircraft did not have a complete current annual and de-ice equipment was inoperative. The pilot had no actual instrument experience and was not certified for multi engine IFR flight. The pilot had a medical history of anxiety attacks and had been taking prescription medication, Xanax and Tofranil, for approximately three years prior to the accident. The blood contained 1.2 mcg/ml of imipramine (Tofranil) and 2.6 mcg/ml desipramine (metabolite of Tofranil). Xanax (alprazolam) was not reported in blood toxicology. These drugs have been known to produce side effects that include poor judgement. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Probable cause:

Occurrence #1: in flight encounter with weather
Phase of operation: cruise - normal
Findings
1. (f) weather condition - thunderstorm
2. (f) weather condition - icing conditions
3. (f) flight control surfaces/attachments - ice
4. (f) weather condition - rain
5. (f) weather condition - turbulence
6. (c) in-flight planning/decision - poor - pilot in command
7. (c) impairment (drugs) - pilot in command
8. (c) flight into known adverse weather - intentional - pilot in command
9. (f) lack of total instrument time - pilot in command
10. (f) operation with known deficiencies in equipment - performed - pilot in command
----------
Occurrence #2: loss of engine power (partial) - nonmechanical
Phase of operation: cruise
Findings
11. 1 engine
12. Engine assembly - undetermined
----------
Occurrence #3: airframe/component/system failure/malfunction
Phase of operation: descent - uncontrolled
Findings
13. (f) operation with known deficiencies in equipment - performed - pilot in command
14. (c) design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded - pilot in command
----------
Occurrence #4: in flight collision with terrain/water
Phase of operation: descent - uncontrolled
Findings
15. Terrain condition - residential area

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 421B Golden Eagle II in Gaaden: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 7, 1987 at 1637 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Businessair

Registration:

HB-LMI

Flight Phase:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Budapest - Bad Vöslau

MSN:

421B-0838

YOM:

1974

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

6755

Aircraft flight hours:

1800

Circumstances:

The pilot started the approach to Bad Vöslau Airport at dusk and under VFR mode. Due to marginal weather conditions, he was unable to locate the airport then decided to divert to Vienna-Schwechat Airport. He completed a left turn, passed over Baden and continued at an altitude of 2,000 feet when the twin engine aircraft struck a hill and crashed in Gaaden. Both occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The visibility was too low at the time of the accident to attempt a VFR landing at Bad Vöslau Airport that was not equipped with an ILS. According to weather conditions, the pilot should fly directly to Vienna-Schwechat Airport.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 421B Golden Eagle II in Stansted: 6 killed

Date & Time: Oct 20, 1987 at 1200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Hastingwood Hotels

Registration:

G-HAST

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Stansted – Tatenhill

MSN:

421B-0828

YOM:

1974

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

500

Captain / Total hours on type:

200.00

Circumstances:

The aircraft was on an IFR flight from Stansted Airport to Tatenhill Aerodrome with a pilot and five passengers on board. Shortly after takeoff from runway 23 at Stansted the pilot reported that he had a problem and wished to return. Stansted ATC cleared him for a left hand circuit and return. As the aircraft turned left hand towards a downwind leg the left bank was observed to suddenly increase and it turned onto its back before descending vertically and crashing into a wooded area to the southwest of the airport. Immediately after the impact there was a fierce fire; all the occupants were killed instantaneously.

Probable cause:

Examination confirmed that the right hand propeller and engine has been delivering power normally before impact, but that the left propeller and engine had not been producing power. The left engine drive fuel pump had also suffered fire damage, and the rubber seals were leaking. Upon disassembly it was found that the aneroid unit within the pump was corroded and could not have functioned. The possible adverse effects of the corrosion within the fuel pump aneroid unit to engine performance were investigated using another similar engine in a test facility. It was found that this condition caused the engine to misfire and run roughly at high power settings, but that the engine ran normally at low power. The tests, whilst not totally representative of the conditions on the accident flight, showed no tendency for the engine to fail completely, although sudden full throttle applications grossly aggravated the rough running. Thus no reason for the apparent marked power loss associated with the left engine fitted to G-HAST has been established.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 421B Golden Eagle II in DeLand: 5 killed

Date & Time: Oct 7, 1987 at 1150 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Blackwing Aviation

Registration:

N8043Q

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

DeLand - Punta Gorda

MSN:

421B-0043

YOM:

1970

Location:

DeLand

Florida

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

18000

Captain / Total hours on type:

0.00

Aircraft flight hours:

2600

Circumstances:

The aircraft was observed to be flying slowly, then roll steeply to the left and dive into an unoccupied house from about 300 feet shortly after takeoff. The pilot had considerable flight time but he had not flown this model, except for a 35 minutes checkout that morning. The checkout consisted of 3 takeoffs and landings. The pilot's friend, a rated pilot without a multi engine rating, sat in the right cockpit seat and had logged flight time in the pilot's other twin aircraft. A witness stated the pilot looked pale and appeared troubled just before the flight. The autopsy of the pilot revealed the left main coronary artery was blocked except for a 'pinhole' opening. The doctor stated the condition could have caused a seizure but could not say whether it had any bearing on this accident. No evidence could be found to indicate any preimpact malfunction or failure with the airframe, propellers, or engines. The aircraft was estimated to be 134 pounds over gross weight. All five occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Occurrence #1: loss of control - in flight
Phase of operation: takeoff - initial climb
Findings
1. (f) aircraft weight and balance - exceeded - pilot in command
2. (c) airspeed - not maintained - pilot in command
3. Physical impairment (other cardiovascular) - pilot in command
4. (c) stall - inadvertent - pilot in command
----------
Occurrence #2: in flight collision with object
Phase of operation: descent - uncontrolled
Findings
5. Object - residence

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 421B Golden Eagle I off Kalundborg: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jul 29, 1986

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Dansk Totalenterprise

Registration:

OY-BUS

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Roskilde - Luton

MSN:

421B-0615

YOM:

1974

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Before takeoff from Roskilde Airport, the pilot received a weather briefing and was informed about the presence of thunderstorm activity over Denmark. All four passengers, two Directors of the Company and their wifes, were flying to London to go to an Opera. About 15 minutes into the flight, the twin engine aircraft went through clouds when it encountered severe turbulences. One of the wing tip tank detached and out of control, the aircraft entered a dive and crashed in the Great Belt off Kalundborg. The aircraft was destroyed and all five occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

In-flight loss of control due to thunderstorm activity and turbulences.

Crash of a Cessna 421B Golden Eagle II in Franktown

Date & Time: Dec 1, 1985 at 1732 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

J & M Partners

Registration:

N249JM

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Nashville – Chanute – Aspen

MSN:

421B-0124

YOM:

1971

Location:

Franktown

Colorado

Country:

Region: