Cessna 421C accident near El Prado, NM
On March 5, 1995, a Cessna 421C (airplane) was involved in an accident near El Prado, NM. 4 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- March 5, 1995
- Place
- El Prado, NM
- Aircraft
- Cessna 421C · Airplane
- Injuries
- 4 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 36.469°N, 105.621°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001207X03108
Official records · FTW95FA130
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
Air traffic control records
- ATC Transcripts and Radar Data: Transcript (PDF), on ntsb.gov
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On March 5, 1995, approximately 1355 mountain standard time, a Cessna 421C, N421BL, was destroyed following a loss of control during approach to the Taos Municipal Airport near El Prado, New Mexico. The commercial instrument rated pilot and his three passengers were fatally injured. An instrument flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight which departed Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, at 1207 central standard time. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed for the approach to Taos. At 0759 central standard time (CST), the pilot telephoned the McAlester Automated Flight Service Station and requested a standard weather briefing from Oklahoma City to Taos. During the briefing, the pilot was advised of forecast conditions for light to moderate rime icing and moderate turbulence at his destination. At the conclusion of the briefing, the pilot filed an IFR flight plan with a proposed departure time of 1200 CST. While en route, at 1307 mountain standard time (MST), the pilot requested the current weather at Taos, and was given the 1254 MST observation of "measured ceiling one thousand nine hundred broken, two thousand five hundred overcast, visibility ten, temperature forty one, dew point thirty four, altimeter two nine eight eight." According to radar track data, during the period of time from about 1324 to 1344 MST, the airplane passed over the Sangre de Cristo mountain range, which contains numerous peaks with elevations greater than 12,000 feet. During this period, as shown on the attached Data Analysis and Reducti
Probable cause
THE PILOT'S DECISION TO CONTINUE FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS AND THE ENSUING INADVERTENT STALL DUE TO AIRFRAME ICE. FACTORS WERE THE WEATHER CONDITIONS.
More accidents in NM
- Gates Learjet 25D, Sep 5, 1993
- Piper PA-32-300, Dec 26, 1982
- Mitsubishi MU-2B-30, Jun 25, 1992
- Cessna 421C, Feb 11, 1985
- Beech 58, Mar 26, 1982
Browse: New Mexico · 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.
