Cessna 421 N5AY

Summary

On 14 February 2001 at about 00:40 local time, a Cessna 421 registered N5AY was involved in an accident near Munford, Alabama, United States. 5 people were on board and 5 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

14 February 2001 at 00:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Munford, Alabama, United States

Nearest airport

Talladega, al (ASN)

Coordinates

33.5248, -85.9521

Aircraft

Cessna 421

Registration

N5AY

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Hamilton → Talladega

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Night

NTSB number

ATL01FA036

5 people died.

The pilot continued visual flight into instrument weather conditions that resulted in the inflight collision with a river bank. Factors were reduced visibility and dark night.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot and passengers were on a instrument flight returning home. When they were within range of the destination airport, the controller cleared the flight for an instrument approach. Moment later the pilot canceled his instrument flight plan and told the controller that he was below the weather. Low clouds, reduced visibility and fog existed at the destination airport at the time of the accident. The airplane collided with a river bank as the pilot maneuvered for the visual approach. The post-crash examination of the airplane failed to disclose a mechanical problem.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.