Cessna 421 accident near Bernard, IA

On April 29, 1996, a Cessna 421 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Bernard, IA. 3 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.

Date

April 29, 1996

Place

Bernard, IA

Aircraft

Cessna 421 · Airplane

Injuries

3 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor

Damage

Destroyed

Position

42.310°N, 90.830°W

NTSB ID

20001208X05523

Official records · CHI96FA146

• 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 April 29, 1996, at 1515 central daylight time (cdt), a Cessna 421, N341DA, piloted by an airline transport rated pilot, was destroyed when it impacted with terrain during a snow storm. The pilot reported low oil pressure on the left engine to Chicago Center, during the flight. The pilot and two passengers were fatally injured. The 14 CFR Part 135 flight was operating on a IFR flight plan, and instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane departed from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, with an intended destination of General Mitchell International Airport, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. N341DA was on an IFR flight plan when it arrived at Cedar Rapids, Iowa. During the inbound flight to Cedar Rapids Airport the pilot reported fluctuating oil pressure. Tapes from the Cedar Rapids approach/tower recorded approximately ten minutes of time difference between the pilots report of fluctuating oil pressure, and the time the tower operator told the pilot to contact ground control. A transcript of the pilots conversation with Chicago Center on the accident flight is included as a supplement to this report. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION The wreckage path for N341DA covered a distance of approximately 60 feet, on a magnetic heading of 100 degrees. The investigator in charge (IIC) approximated the descent angle at 45 degrees. Both left and right propellers had only a small portion of one blade visible above the surface of the earth. The tail section of the fuselage was separated just aft of the rear pressure bulkhead, and the cockpit area had su

Probable cause

the pilot's operation of the airplane with known deficiencies, subsequent loss of oil from the left engine, and the pilot's failure to maintain minimum controllable airspeed (VMC), while diverting to an alternate airport. Factors relating to the accident were: a leak from an unknown component in the left engine oil system, and the local weather condition.

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Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.