Cessna 421C N421AG

Summary

On 15 June 1994 at about 21:34 local time, a Cessna 421C registered N421AG, operated by Alexander Greco, was involved in an accident near Carlsbad, California, United States. 3 people were on board and 2 died, one was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

15 June 1994 at 21:34

Classification

Accident

Location

Carlsbad, California, United States

Nearest airport

McClellan-Palomar (CRQ)

Coordinates

33.1297, -117.2995

Aircraft

Cessna 421C

Registration

N421AG

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Alexander Greco

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Las Vegas

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX94FA257

2 people died.

A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO RAISE THE FLAPS AND MAINTAIN ALTITUDE WERE FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

ABOUT 2 MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PILOT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY, STATING THAT HE HAD LOST AN ENGINE AND NEEDED TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT. THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED INTO ROUGH, BRUSH-COVERED TERRAIN AND THEN STRUCK A LARGE DIRT BERM, ABOUT 1-1/2 MILES NORTHEAST OF THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINES DID NOT REVEAL ANY OBVIOUS MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION. THE FUEL WAS CORRECT. COMBUSTION CHAMBER SIGNATURES INDICATED THAT THE ENGINES WERE OPERATED AT A LEAN OR MILD DETONATION CONDITION. THE FLAPS WERE EXTENDED ABOUT 30 DEGREES AND THE LANDING GEAR WAS RETRACTED. THE SURVIVING PASSENGER COULD NOT RECALL ANY DRAMATIC ENGINE PROBLEMS, ONLY THAT THE AIRPLANE COULD NOT MAINTAIN ALTITUDE. THE PILOT AND FRONT SEAT PASSENGER WERE NOT WEARING SHOULDER HARNESSES.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.