Cessna 421C N985RA
29 July 1994 · Polacca, Arizona, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 29 July 1994 at about 23:20 local time, a Cessna 421C registered N985RA, operated by Randsburg Corp., was involved in an accident near Polacca, Arizona, United States. 5 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 23:20
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Polacca, Arizona, United States
- Nearest airport
- Palocca (4PH)
- Coordinates
- 35.7610, -110.2490
- Aircraft
- Cessna 421C
- Registration
- N985RA
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 2
- Operator
- Randsburg Corp.
- Operating rule
- Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Flagstaff → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX94LA302
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
Probable cause
the pilot's attempt to make a 180-degree turn in soft sand at a speed which imposed side loading on the nose gear. Factors were the pilot's decision to continue the approach beyond the planned touchdown point, the effect of the runway surface on braking action, and the bird strike.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The pilot reported he observed the windsock hanging limp and initiated an approach to runway 22. After turning final, he noticed that the aircraft floated more than usual and suspected that he had a tail wind. Upon touchdown, a bird impacted the copilot's windscreen and he said he may have delayed braking as he attempted to avoid the flock. After touchdown, he said the braking action was less than normal because of the roughness of the tar and dirt build up on the runway surface. By the time he was able to slow the aircraft's landing roll, he had overrun the runway. He immediately noticed the aircraft was rolling into soft sand and was attempting to use his momentum to make a 180-degree turn back to runway when the nose gear collapsed.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Cessna 421 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Nov 1994 | Cessna 421A | Sparks, Nevada, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 29 Jul 1994 | Cessna 421C | Oshkosh, Wisconsin, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 23 Feb 1994 | Cessna 421C | Tulare, California, United States | Arie van RYN | No injuries | - |
| 26 Jan 1994 | Cessna 421C | McCook, Nebraska, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 14 Dec 1994 | Cessna 421C | Chinle, Arizona, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 10 Feb 1994 | Cessna 421C | San Antonio, Texas, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Sep 1994 | Cessna 210L | Payson, Arizona, United States | Dairy Queen of S. Arizona, Inc | No injuries | - |
| 21 Sep 1994 | James B Edwards COZY | Skull Valley, Arizona, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 21 Sep 1994 | Robinson R-22 | Benson, Arizona, United States | Same AS Registered Owner | No injuries | - |
| 1 Jul 1994 | Bell 206-B3 | Tucson, Arizona, United States | U.s. Forest Service | Unknown | - |
| 4 Jan 1994 | Bell 206B | Coolidge Dam, Arizona, United States | Southwest Helicopters, Inc. | Fatal | 1 |
| 15 Nov 1994 | Cessna 172K | Springerville, Arizona, United States | - | Fatal | 3 |