Cessna 421C accident near San Antonio, TX
On February 10, 1994, a Cessna 421C (airplane) was involved in an accident near San Antonio, TX. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- February 10, 1994
- Place
- San Antonio, TX
- Aircraft
- Cessna 421C · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 1 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 29.541°N, 98.491°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001206X00743
Official records · FTW94FA082
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
Air traffic control records
- Transcript of Radio Communications: Transcript (PDF), on ntsb.gov
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On February 10, 1994, at 0713 central standard time, a Cessna 421C, N741CA, was destroyed when it collided with a tree and impacted terrain in San Antonio, Texas. The airline transport rated pilot and one passenger were fatally injured, and another passenger received serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A spokesman for the operator said the airplane, operating as an air ambulance, made a round trip to Del Rio, Texas, earlier that morning. That flight originated and returned to San Antonio International Airport. Upon return the pilot instructed the fixed base operator (FBO) to service the airplane with 60 gallons of 100 octane low lead aviation grade gasoline, 30 gallons in each wing tank. According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) documents, the pilot obtained a weather briefing, filed an IFR flight plan to Eagle Pass, Texas, then took off on runway 03 at 0711. The airplane and crew were based in Eagle Pass. One minute later, the pilot reported he had "a problem," and needed to return immediately. He was cleared to land on runway 12R. Witnesses said the airplane was flying low, the wings were "wobbling," and both engines were trailing dark black smoke. The airplane struck the ground about 1/2-mile northeast of the runway threshold. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION According to airplane maintenance records, Airworthiness Directive 87-21-02, which mandated the installation of fuel filler restrictors in the wing tanks, was accomplished on July 28, 1988. This was confirmed by visual inspection at the accident site. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFO
Probable cause
IMPROPER SERVICING OF THE AIRPLANE WITH JET FUEL, WHICH RESULTED IN PREIGNITION AND/OR DETONATION AND SUBSEQUENT FAILURE OF PISTONS IN BOTH ENGINES. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE LACK OF A RESTRICTIVE MATING NOZZLE ON THE REFUELING TRUCK.
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Browse: Texas · Cessna aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
