Cessna 421C Golden Eagle III

The aircraft lost power on right engine shortly after take-off. The aircraft crashed and burned in a wooded area several miles southwest of the airport. The right engine was severely damaged in the fire. No pre-impact malfunction could be documented. Examination of the propeller did not reveal damage consistent with that usually found when a propeller is in the feathered position. The flap jack screw was found in the 10-15° position. Both engines had a history of shut down at low power settings during taxi. The right engine had 'burbled' during the previous flight and the left engine shut down after landing.

The aircraft was landed in a pasture about 2 miles from the airport after the aircraft began to descend 'behind the power curve' after takeoff. The pilot said he used full power for takeoff but the takeoff was longer than normal. The da was computed to be 9,286 feet. After takeoff the pilot said he raised the landing gear but a witness disagreed. The flight then reduced power and as rpm was reduced, noted that the mp was only 24 inches. The aircraft began a descent which the pilot said could not be stopped with power so he landed gear down in a pasture. The aircraft collided with 2 ditches and a fence during the 1,500 feet roll. The engines were found to operate normally after the accident. All four occupants were injured, two seriously.

The pilot was flying his wife and her 4 friends to Aspen, CO for a ski vacation. Witnesses reported that during takeoff, the right baggage door opened. They observed the aircraft turn left onto a downwind with the landing gear extended. Eight witnesses reported the engines were producing power of varying degrees; two stated the left engine stopped running and two reported the right engine had a reduction of power or rpm. In the vicinity of where the pilot would have made a base turn, the aircraft entered a left descending turn, collided with the tops of trees beside a road, impacted in the roadway on an easterly heading, slid to a stop and burned. An exam revealed the gear was down, the left propeller was feathered and there was evidence the right baggage door was open. The throttle quadrant was found with the left throttle 2/3 forward, the right throttle full aft, the left propeller control in the feather position, the right prop control full forward and the mixtures at or near their forward positions. The flight characteristics of the aircraft were considered normal with the baggage door open. All six occupants were killed.

Approximately 7 minutes after takeoff (at 1441), the pilot declared an emergency and said the left engine had lost power. He feathered the engine, diverted back toward the airport and descended to VFR conditions below the clouds. At 1448, the pilot said he had the airport in sight and turned onto a left downwind for runway 15. Reportedly, he extended the landing gear and began a left turn toward the runway. Reportedly, the aircraft was too close in and/or the pilot chose to make a right turn away from the airport to land. Witnesses lost sight of the aircraft during the turn due to low clouds or obstructions. The pilot lost sight of the airport for a short time, then relocated it, but said he had his 'hands full.' Shortly thereafter, the aircraft entered a steep descent, hit the edge (roof) of a building, crashed into a utility pole and the ground and burned. There was evidence the aircraft was inverted just before impact. An exam of the left engine revealed evidence the #6 connecting rod had failed from oil exhaustion. Only one cup of oil was found in the engine and it had a history of high oil consumption. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

According to witnesses, the aircraft entered clouds at low altitude during the initial climb after takeoff. They reported that the aircraft then turned sharply back toward the airport and descended below the clouds. It rolled out in the direction of the crash site with the wings rocking. One witness said the aircraft 'turned over 2 or 3 times' before it crashed. No preimpact part failure or malfunction was evident. All four occupants were killed.

During a preflight weather briefing, the pilot was advised of thunderstorms and intense rain showers on the route of flight. However, he filed an IFR flight plan and took off. During flight, the ATC controller advised the pilot of a level 6 cell ahead and noted that he had no report on its top. The pilot reported that he was 'not showing anything' on his radar. Attempts were made to deviate. Approximately 20 minutes later, the pilot reported the aircraft was encountering icing conditions and was losing altitude. After another 1 min and 38 seconds, he reported 'we're going in.' Subsequently, an in-flight breakup occurred. The wreckage was found scattered over a 1/2 mile area. An exam revealed that the outboard wing panels had failed in flight. Witnesses reported seeing either smoke or fire in flight before the aircraft crashed. Evidence of an electrical discharge was found on the outboard portion of the right wing. However, the pilot had not mentioned any encounter with lightning on this flight. No evidence of metal fatigue was found. All three occupants were killed.

The pilot initiated a takeoff on a hot afternoon with 7 passengers on board. Shortly after liftoff, two witnesses observed what they described as a puff of black smoke from the right engine. According to witnesses, the aircraft turned to the left before crossing the departure end of the runway at low altitude and low speed. Subsequently, the aircraft rolled rapidly to the left and impacted the ground in a near flat attitude, with a high rate of sink, and sufficient forward velocity to slide or bounce about 70 feet before coming to rest and burning. An exam of the wreckage, including teardowns of both engines, revealed no pre-impact/mechanical malfunction or failure. The aircraft was estimated to be 80 lbs below its max design gross weight. Its center of gravity was computed to be 1.45 inches aft of its rear limit. The temperature was 101° and the density altitude was about 4,000 feet. All eight occupants were killed.

The pilot reported that during a climb after takeoff, he engaged the autopilot. While making an entry on a trip sheet, he felt a bump and noted that the aircraft had started to descend. He disengaged the autopilot and the nose pitched down violently. Reducing power had an adverse effect, so he increased power again. He finally leveled the aircraft just prior to impacting in a field at cruise power. The elevator trim tab cables were found to have been crossed between the tab actuator and the pulley in the tail cone. The tab was also found fully trimmed nose down. The aircraft had just been given an annual inspection during which the elevator trim actuator had been removed, inspected and lubricated. This was the first flight since the inspection. All eight occupants escaped with minor injuries.

During the takeoff roll on runway 01 (805 meters long grassy runway), the twin engine aircraft encountered serious difficulties to gain the necessary speed of 85 knots. It overran, rolled through a cornfield, crossed a motorway and came to rest against a dirt bank, bursting into flames. All four occupants were injured, the pilot seriously. The aircraft was totally destroyed by a post crash fire.

During arrival, the pilot was cleared for an ILS approach to runway 20L. The pilot stated that the approach was normal in moderate to heavy rain and he broke out at about 800 ft agl. He crossed the end of the runway with full flaps, was high, and touched down near the intersection of runway 20l and runway 27. This intersection was about 3,100 ft beyond the approach end of runway 20L. After touchdown, the aircraft continued off the end of the runway, went over an embankment and came to rest about 50 ft beyond the runway in soft mud. During the investigation white tire marks were found near the end of the runway. These marks resembled those made by hydroplaning action. The pilot stated he had trouble seeing the runway and that windshield wipers would have been helpful.