Cessna 421C Crashed into a Fairview Home, Killing Three People

Maintenance provider Emerald Aircrafters II is facing a $10 million lawsuit after one of the planes it worked on crashed into a home, killing three people. The case alleges that the company’s work led to a malfunction with the aircraft.

The crash occurred at around 10:30 am on August 31, 2024. The aircraft, a twin-engine Cessna 421C Golden Eagle, had just taken off from Troutdale Airport (TTD) in Oregon with a pilot and flight instructor on board. It was instructed to remain in the traffic pattern, but the pilot was unable to maintain the proper 1,000-foot altitude due to issues with ‘handling.’

Minutes later, radar contact with the Cessna was lost, and the pilot was cleared to land on any runway. Surveillance camera footage captured it descending through powerlines into a large neighborhood of townhomes, just two miles southwest of the airport. The two occupants, as well as a woman sleeping in the impacted home, were killed, and four residences were destroyed.

This woman was 75-year-old Barbara MacDonald, the long-term partner of Kent Walton. Walton had been out grocery shopping while MacDonald slept. He is now suing the company that allegedly maintained the aircraft, maintenance and experimental aircraft builder-assist provider Emerald Aircrafters II, for $10 million.

On top of the maintenance provider, Walton’s lawsuit targets 73-year-old pilot Michael Busher and 79-year-old flight instructor Jacqueline Whitford. The case names their estates and the aircraft owner, Delaware-based Circle Capital Industrial IAC, as defendants.

Though a final NTSB report is still in the works, the agency has confirmed that the plane was on a maintenance test flight at the time of the crash.

FMI: www.emeraldaircrafters.com