Cessna 421C N234CG

Summary

On 1 January 1999 at about 23:05 local time, a Cessna 421C registered N234CG was involved in an accident near Shelbyville, Texas, United States. 5 people were on board and 4 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

1 January 1999 at 23:05

Classification

Accident

Location

Shelbyville, Texas, United States

Coordinates

31.7006, -93.9502

Aircraft

Cessna 421C

Registration

N234CG

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

New Orleans → Omaha

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Dusk

NTSB number

FTW99LA059

4 people had minor injuries.

The total failure of the aircraft's electrical system. Factors were the thunderstorms, the dusk light condition, and the lack of suitable terrain for the precautionary landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During a precautionary landing following a loss of electrical power, the pilot turned the airplane to avoid colliding with a pickup truck, and the airplane impacted trees. The pilot reported that while IMC, at 14,000 feet msl, he started preparing for ice penetration and turned on the two propeller anti-ice switches. The right propeller anti-icing circuit breaker popped, and when the circuit breaker was reset, the airplane experienced a total electrical failure. The pilot initiated an emergency descent, and entered into VFR conditions at about 1,500 feet. After about 30 minutes of trying to locate an airport, with it getting dark and thunderstorms in the area, the pilot elected to land on a narrow road with trees on both sides. Testing of the alternator system revealed discrepancies with the left alternator, both voltage regulators, and the right alternator out sensor.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.