Six Fatally Injured When The Cessna 421 They Were Aboard Went Down

The NTSB has released its preliminary report from an accident which occurred July 1 involving the in-flight breakup of a Cessna 421 airplane. The commercial-rated pilot and five passengers were fatally injured in the accident.

The report offers no clues as to what may have happened during the flight. The NTSB said that the airplane, which was registered to Sky King Flying Service, Inc. of Wilmington Delaware, and was operated by the pilot on a personal cross-country flight, which was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Dark night visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed in the area and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed.

The flight originated about 0028 from Waukegan, Illinois, and was en route to Warroad International Memorial Airport (RRT), Warroad, Minnesota. According to family members, the intent of the flight was to fly to RRT, and then the 6 occupants were to be picked up by a guide company for a fishing trip in Winnipeg, Canada. A flight plan found in the pilot's onboard flight bag showed documents pertaining to the flight to RRT.

According to FAA air traffic control (ATC) and radar records, the airplane was flying about 10,000 feet mean sea level when the pilot queried the ATC controller about weather conditions in the vicinity. Preliminary radar data showed the airplane between 10,000 and 10,500 feet in a slight left turn and then a descending right turn. After the right turn, radio contact was lost and the airplane descended rapidly. There were no distress calls from the pilot. According to preliminary weather data, the airplane was flying in VMC weather conditions when radar contact was lost. Search and rescue operations were started immediately after radar contact was lost.

The nearest weather reporting facility to the accident was located about 15 miles east of the accident site in Phillips, Wisconsin. Price County Airport (PBH) reported visual meteorological conditions in the vicinity of the accident. PBH METAR 010635Z AUTO 36003KT 10SM BKN006 14/14 A2986 RMK AO2 T01350135. Regional weather radar did not report any convection or thunderstorms coincident with the airplane's flightpath, or near to the flightpath. The accident site was located about 25 miles to the east of convective activity with no coincidental lightning.

A person who was driving home from work reported that he heard engine noise, then did not hear engine noise, then heard engine noise again. He then saw what he thought were the lights of an airplane, and then the lights went out. Another witness (who did not see the airplane) reported that she heard a loud sound. Both witnesses were in the vicinity of the accident location about the same time the accident occurred.

According to local authorities (Price County Sheriff Department), a call was received in their dispatch that an airplane was missing in the area. The sheriff dispatched personnel to the location, and some wreckage debris was found on Highway 111 near Catawba. The main wreckage was found in heavily wooded and muddy terrain, about 900 feet off the highway, at grid coordinates N45°33.3147' W090°29.6990'. Tree stands varied from 15-80 feet high with heavy brush and a small stream nearby. Emergency response was initiated and the NTSB/FAA were notified.

Initial examination and documentation of the accident site by the NTSB showed that the debris encompassed an area of about ¼ mile. Tree scars and ground impressions indicated that the main section of the fuselage impacted terrain in a nose-low attitude. The empennage was not attached to the fuselage and was located about 1,200 feet from the main wreckage. One of the engines was found in a 9-foot deep crater. Evidence at the accident site showed that the airplane had broken apart prior to impact.

The wreckage was recovered from the accident site and transported to a secure facility in Lakeside, Minnesota, for detailed examinations, which were conducted by the NTSB on July 3- 4, 2017. The engines were crated and shipped to Continental Motors, Mobile, Alabama, for examination at a later date.

(Image from file. Not accident airplane)

FMI: Preliminary Report