Crash of a Cessna 421C Golden Eagle III near Shoshone: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 21, 1981 at 2323 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 421C Golden Eagle III
Operator:
Western Broadcasting Company
Registration:
N8369G
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Salt Lake City - Hailey
MSN:
421C-0309
YOM:
1977
Location:
Shoshone
Idaho
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
33930
Captain / Total hours on type:
46.00
Circumstances:
While cruising by night from Salt Lake City to Hailey, the pilot failed to see and avoid mountainous terrain. The twin engine airplane struck the slope of a mountain and crashed near Shoshone, killing all three occupants.
Probable cause:
Controlled collision with ground in normal cruise after the pilot misjudged altitude and clearance. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Low ceiling,
- Dark night,
- Area forecast for mountains occasionally obscured above 7,000 - 9,000 feet.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 421C Golden Eagle III in Rutland: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 30, 1981 at 1448 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 421C Golden Eagle III
Operator:
Donald L. Stoneburner
Registration:
N6867R
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Hickory - Columbus
MSN:
421C-1088
YOM:
1981
Location:
Rutland
Ohio
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
1500
Circumstances:
While descending to Columbus, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with thunderstorm activity. In clouds, the pilot suffered a spatial disorientation and lost control of the airplane that entered a dive. Due to overload failure, horizontal stabilizers and wings failed and the aircraft crashed in a field, bursting into flames. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
Airframe failure in flight after the pilot attempted operation beyond experience/ability level. The following contributing factors were reported:
- The pilot suffered a spatial disorientation,
- Exceeded design stress limits of aircraft,
- Wings: spars,
- Flight control surfaces: horizontal stabilizers, attachments,
- Overload failure,
- Thunderstorm activity,
- Prearranged IFR information flight with Beechcraft King Air,
- Horizontal stabilizers and wings failed downward.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 421C Golden Eagle III in Decatur: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 20, 1980 at 2323 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 421C Golden Eagle III
Operator:
Peterson Industries
Registration:
N31LP
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Little Rock - Decatur
MSN:
421C-0046
YOM:
1976
Location:
Decatur-Crystal Lake
Arkansas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
28260
Captain / Total hours on type:
610.00
Circumstances:
On an instrument approach to Decatur-Crystal Lake Airport, the pilot cancelled the IFR flight plan and continued under VFR mode when he encountered limited visibility due to fog. He decided to initiate a go-around when the twin engine airplane struck power cables and crashed in flames. Both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Collision with wires/poles during a go-around after the pilot continued VFR flight into adverse weather conditions. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Fog,
- High obstructions,
- Weather conditions below minimums,
- Fog on runway surface,
- Runway lights on,
- VASI inoperative.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 421C Golden Eagle III near Escondido: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 11, 1980 at 0824 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 421C Golden Eagle III
Operator:
Stephen H. Elmore
Registration:
N15SE
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Ferry
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Brawley - McCllelan-Palomar
MSN:
421C-0115
YOM:
1976
Location:
Escondido
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
6500
Captain / Total hours on type:
109.00
Circumstances:
The pilot departed Brawley Airport at 0800LT on a ferry flight to McClellan-Palomar Airport where the aircraft was supposed to follow a maintenance check. En route, control was lost and the airplane crashed in flames in Lake Wohlford, northeast of Escondido. The burnt wreckage was found 31 hours later. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
Uncontrolled descent for undetermined reasons.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 421C Golden Eagle III near Plato

Date & Time: Dec 20, 1979
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 421C Golden Eagle III
Operator:
Horizon Partners
Registration:
N6814C
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Illegal (smuggling)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
421C-0472
YOM:
1978
Location:
Plato
Magdalena
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances on a mountain located in the region of Plato while engaged in an illegal flight. Both occupants were seriously injured.

Crash of a Cessna 421C Golden Eagle III near Kenansville

Date & Time: Apr 23, 1979
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 421C Golden Eagle III
Operator:
Aero Facilities Corporation
Registration:
N8432N
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Illegal (smuggling)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
421C-0491
YOM:
1978
Location:
Kenansville
Florida
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane was engaged in an illegal flight, carrying drugs. It crashed in unknown circumstances near Kenansville and was destroyed. The pilot was not recovered.
Probable cause:
The cause of the accident could not be determined.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 421C Golden Eagle III near Spanish Fork: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jan 9, 1979 at 1710 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 421C Golden Eagle III
Operator:
AABC Investors
Registration:
N5469G
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Provo - San Francisco
MSN:
421C-0216
YOM:
1972
Location:
Spanish Fork
Utah
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Captain / Total flying hours:
2629
Captain / Total hours on type:
52.00
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from Provo Airport, while climbing in marginal weather conditions and limited visibility, the twin engine airplane struck the slope of a mountain located near Spanish Fork, few miles southeast of Provo. The wreckage was found four days later, on January 13. All five occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled collision with ground from climb to cruise due to improper IFR operation. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Low ceiling,
- Fog,
- Snow,
- Visibility 3/4 mile or less.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 421C Golden Eagle III in Leonessa: 10 killed

Date & Time: Dec 16, 1978 at 1245 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 421C Golden Eagle III
Operator:
Air 70
Registration:
I-ASCN
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Trieste - Rome - Algiers
MSN:
421C-0054
YOM:
1976
Location:
Leonessa
Lazio
Country:
Italy
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed Trieste-Ronchi dei Legionari Airport at 1045LT on a charter flight to Algiers with two pilots and eight passengers, a delegation of the Icomsa. An en route stop was planned in Rome and while cruising in limited visibility due to foggy conditions, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane struck power cables and crashed on a house located in Leonessa, about 80 km northeast of Rome. The aircraft was destroyed and all eight occupants were killed.
Crew:
Carlo Rinauro,
Giuseppe Torrisi.
Passengers:
Giuseppe Pino Bottacin,
Armand Houzel,
Enzo Bandelloni,
Giulio Brunetta,
Adriano Brunetti,
Giovanni Indri,
Giampaolo Schvarcz,
Giuseppe Trapanese.

Crash of a Cessna 421C Golden Eagle III in Vorberg: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jan 27, 1977 at 1457 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 421C Golden Eagle III
Operator:
Registration:
D-IAGA
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Bern - Basel
MSN:
421C-0019
YOM:
1976
Location:
Vorberg
Solothurn
Country:
Switzerland
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Captain / Total flying hours:
1877
Captain / Total hours on type:
89.00
Aircraft flight hours:
234
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed Bern-Belmoos Airport at 1451LT on a VFR flight to Basel EuroAirport. Weather was poor en route with low clouds and limited visibility. Eight minutes after takeoff, while cruising in clouds, the twin engine airplane struck the slope of a mountain (1,145 metres high) located near Vorberg, Solothurn. The wreckage was found in the evening and all five occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The crew continued under VFR mode in adverse weather conditions. Lack of visibility, low clouds and rain/snow were considered as contributing factors.
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