Cessna 421B Golden Eagle II

Operator:

Business Flyers

Registration:

HB-LGM

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Ajaccio - Zurich

MSN:

421B-0226

YOM:

1972

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

584

Captain / Total hours on type:

9.00

Aircraft flight hours:

1753

Circumstances:

Following an uneventful flight from Ajaccio-Campo dell'Oro Airport, the pilot started the approach to runway 14 at Zurich-Kloten in poor weather conditions. By night and limited visibility, at an excessive speed of 180 knots, the pilot failed to realize his altitude was too low when the twin engine airplane struck the ground and crashed 1,700 metres short of runway 14. The aircraft was destroyed and both occupants were injured. At the time of the accident, weather conditions were as follow: wind calm, horizontal visibility over 100 metres, RVR of 400 metres for runway 14, freezing fog and vertical visibility less than 100 feet.

Probable cause:

The accident was the consequence of a controlled flight with ground during a night approach under CAT I conditions. The following contributing factors were reported:
- The pilot's experience on this type of aircraft was insufficient,
- The pilot failed to monitor his instruments,
- The aircraft was unstable on final approach,
- The airplane struck the ground without any corrective manoeuvre on part of the pilot who failed to initiate a go-around procedure,
- Poor weather conditions,
- Visibility below minimums,
- A CAT I approach to runway 14 was thoughtless,
- Excessive approach speed, 180 knots instead of the recommended 105-115 knots.

Crash of a Cessna 421B Golden Eagle II in Winchester: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 11, 1976 at 1820 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Overmyer Corporation

Registration:

N570C

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Winchester-Randolph County

Schedule:

Muncie - Winchester

MSN:

421B-0426

YOM:

1973

Location:

Indiana

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

5258

Captain / Total hours on type:

1370.00

Circumstances:

The pilot obtained a special VFR clearance to fly from Muncie to Winchester. While descending to Winchester-Randolph County Airport, he encountered poor weather conditions and was forced to make a go-around as he was unable to locate the runway. After 3 or 4 go-around manoeuvres, the twin engine airplane crashed in foggy conditions near the airport and was destroyed upon impact. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain during traffic pattern-circling following improper in-flight decisions and planning. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Misjudged altitude,
- Low ceiling,
- Fog,
- Weather considerably worse than forecast,
- Ceiling at 200 feet,
- IFR weather conditions,
- Witnesses estimated 3 or 4 approaches to airport.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 421B Golden Eagle II in Ashdown: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 18, 1976 at 1450 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Owens Company

Registration:

N29RX

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Atlanta - Abilene

MSN:

421B-0556

YOM:

1973

Location:

Ashdown

Arkansas

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

10079

Captain / Total hours on type:

533.00

Circumstances:

While cruising under VFR mode, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with clouds, turbulences and thunderstorm activity. The airplane suffered overload failure, disintegrated in the air and crashed in Ashdown. The wreckage was found a day later. All three occupants have been killed.

Probable cause:

Airframe failure in flight after the crew continued VFR flight into adverse weather conditions. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Overload failure,
- Thunderstorm activity,
- Turbulences associated with clouds and thunderstorms,
- Separation in flight,
- Sky obscured,
- Visibility half a mile or less,
- Aircraft disintegrated.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 421B Golden Eagle II in DeFuniak Springs: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 1, 1976 at 1712 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Ingram Leasing Company

Registration:

N41107

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Panama City - DeFuniak Springs

MSN:

421B-0455

YOM:

1973

Location:

DeFuniak Springs

Florida

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

6507

Captain / Total hours on type:

806.00

Circumstances:

While descending to DeFuniak Springs Airport, the pilot descended very low and completed three low passes above his parent's house. He then continued to the airport when the airplane that crashed in flames. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into ground after the pilot misjudged speed and clearance. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Operated carelessly,
- Physical impairment,
- Alcoholic impairment of efficiency and judgment,
- Unwarranted low flying,
- Blood alcohol level 2,05‰,
- Collided with ground during a third pass over parent's house.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 421B Golden Eagle II in Vienna

Date & Time: Jun 22, 1976

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

OE-FLI

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Vienna - Vienna

MSN:

421B-0650

YOM:

1974

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew (an instructor and two student pilots) was engaged in a local training flight out from Vienna-Schwechat Airport. At liftoff, while in initial climb, the instructor shut down an engine to simulate a failure at low altitude. The pilot-in-command (under supervision) inadvertently shut down the second engine. Due to insufficient speed, the airplane stalled and crashed in flames. All three occupants were seriously injured.

Crash of a Cessna 421B Golden Eagle II in Follett: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 29, 1976 at 1005 LT

Type of aircraft:

Stilwell Aircraft Service

Operator:

Registration:

N71HG

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Albuquerque - Gage - Tahlequah

MSN:

421B-0136

YOM:

1971

Location:

Follett-Lipscomb County

Texas

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

1000

Captain / Total hours on type:

100.00

Circumstances:

The twin engine airplane was completing a flight from Albuquerque to Tahlequah, Oklahoma, with an intermediate stop in Gage. En route, the left engine lost power and the pilot elected to divert to Follett-Lipscomb County Airport. On approach, the airplane stalled and crashed in flames in a prairie. The pilot was killed and all three passengers were seriously injured.

Probable cause:

Engine malfunction during normal cruise and stall on initial approach due to insufficient speed. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Inadequate maintenance and inspection,
- Lubricating system,
- Oil exhaustion,
- Failed to maintain flying speed,
- Improper IFR operation,
- Low ceiling,
- Rain,
- Fog.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 421B Golden Eagle II in Berryville: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 24, 1975 at 1328 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Escalante Coal

Registration:

N100QU

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Arapahoe – Paducah

MSN:

421B-0471

YOM:

1973

Location:

Berryville

Arkansas

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

6700

Captain / Total hours on type:

70.00

Circumstances:

En route from Arapahoe (Colorado) to Paducah, while in normal cruise, the pilot encountered very bad weather conditions with thunderstorm activity, turbulences and hail. Control was lost and the airplane disintegrated in the air before it crashed in Berryville. All three occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Uncontrolled descent and airframe failure in flight after the pilot continued flight into known areas of severe turbulences. The following contributing factors were reported:
- The pilot exceeded the design stress limits of the aircraft,
- Overload failure,
- Hail,
- Turbulences,
- Thunderstorm activity,
- Separation in flight,
- Flew into known thunderstorm conditions,
- Aircraft disintegrated.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 421B Golden Eagle II in Mount Vernon

Date & Time: Dec 1, 1974 at 1730 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Coal Resources

Registration:

N3368Q

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Mount Vernon - Cincinnati

MSN:

421B-0252

YOM:

1972

Location:

Mount Vernon

Ohio

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

4030

Captain / Total hours on type:

250.00

Circumstances:

The takeoff was attempted from a runway contaminated with snow windrows. During takeoff roll, the twin engine airplane was unstable and the pilot decided to lift off prematurely. The aircraft stalled then collided with a snow bank and crashed in flames. All four occupants were injured, two of them seriously.

Probable cause:

Stall during initial climb after the pilot failed to maintain directional control. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Failed to abort takeoff,
- Failed to maintain flying speed,
- Premature lift off,
- Snow on runway,
- Snow windrows.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 421B Golden Eagle I in Roosevelt: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 21, 1973 at 1050 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Landis Sales

Registration:

N2217Q

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Provo - Omaha

MSN:

421B-0017

YOM:

1970

Location:

Roosevelt

Utah

Country:

Region: