Cessna 421C accident near USA
On April 19, 2012, a Cessna 421C (airplane) was involved in an accident near USA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- April 19, 2012
- Place
- USA
- Aircraft
- Cessna 421C · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 27.717°N, 85.217°W
- NTSB ID
- 20120419X51642
Official records · ERA12LA290
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
Air traffic control records
- N48DL ATC package: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
NTSB summary
On April 19, 2012, at 1208 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 421C, N23PH, registered to and operated by a private pilot, collided with the water in the Gulf of Mexico. The personal flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The private pilot was fatally injured and the airplane received substantial damage. The flight departed Slidell Airport (ASD), Slidell, Louisiana, at 0643 central daylight time. According to Jacksonville Center air traffic control (ATC), the pilot contacted the ATC at approximately 0715 central daylight time at flight level 270. Approximately 20 minutes later, the airplane began to deviate from the ATC assigned altitude and route. Attempts by the ATC controller to contact the pilot were unsuccessful. The North American Aerospace Defense Command launched military fighter aircraft to intercept the airplane. The military pilots reported that the airplane was circling in a left hand turn at a high altitude, at low airspeed, and its windows partially frosted over. In addition, they reported that the pilot was slumped over in the cockpit and not moving. They fired flares and the pilot remained unresponsive. The airplane circled for approximately three hours before it descended into the Gulf of Mexico. The airplane immediately filled with water and sank.The pilot, age 65, held a private pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land, multiengine land, and instrument airplane. His most recent Federal Aviati
Probable cause
Pilot incapacitation, which resulted in the pilot’s inability to maintain airplane control and the airplane’s subsequent ocean impact.
More accidents in USA
- Beech 58, Dec 8, 2017
- Cessna 421C, Jul 8, 2009
- Piper PA32 - 300, Oct 6, 2013
- Piper PA-23-250, Oct 13, 2012
- Cessna 177, Oct 29, 2009
Browse: United States · 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.
