Cessna 421C accident near Sioux Falls, SD

On December 9, 2011, a Cessna 421C (airplane) was involved in an accident near Sioux Falls, SD. 4 people died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.

Date

December 9, 2011

Place

Sioux Falls, SD

Aircraft

Cessna 421C · Airplane

Injuries

4 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor

Damage

Substantial

Position

43.592°N, 96.752°W

NTSB ID

20111209X74224

Official records · CEN12FA100

• Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation

Air traffic control records

• Air Traffic Controller Statements: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
• Transcripts of Air Traffic Control Communications: Transcript (PDF), on ntsb.gov

NTSB summary

HISTORY OF FLIGHT On December 9, 2011, at 1424 central standard time, a Cessna 421C, N421SY, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain after takeoff from the Joe Foss Field Airport (FSD), Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The pilot and three passengers were fatally injured. The aircraft was registered to S & S Aviation LLC and operated by Quest Aviation, Inc. under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 as an on-demand air taxi flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was operated on an instrument flight rules flight plan. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. The intended destination was the Rapid City Regional Airport (RAP), Rapid City, South Dakota. At 1422:07 (hhmm:ss), the FSD Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) controller issued a takeoff clearance to the accident flight. At 1423:32, the controller informed the pilot that a “plume” was visible behind the airplane; although, he could not determine the source. The controller subsequently advised the pilot that the “plume” was no longer visible. At 1423:59, the controller cleared the flight to land. No communications were received from the pilot after he acknowledged the takeoff clearance. Witnesses reported that the airplane appeared to be trailing white smoke from the area of the left engine during takeoff from runway 33. They subsequently observed flames at the inboard side of the left engine. The airplane began a left turn and as the turn continued, the flames and trail of white smoke were no longer visible. When the airplane reached a south heading,

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed after shutting down one engine, which resulted in an inadvertent aerodynamic stall and impact with terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to follow the guidance contained in the pilot’s operating handbook, which advised feathering the propeller of the secured engine and retracting the flaps and landing gear.

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Browse: South Dakota · Cessna aircraft

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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.