Family Of Seven Fatally Injured When Airplane When Cessna 421 Went Down After Declaring An Emergency

The NTSB is looking at a possible engine failure in an accident July 9th which fatally injured all seven people aboard a Cessna 421C. The pilot reported engine problems while in cruise flight at FL210, and an examination of the engine found damage on the camshaft gear teeth of the airplane's right engine.

NTSB Identification: ERA11FA391
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, July 09, 2011 in Demopolis, AL
Aircraft: CESSNA 421C, registration: N692TT
Injuries: 7 Fatal.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

On July 9, 2011, about 1740 central daylight time, a Cessna 421C, N629TT, operated by a private individual, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain while on approach to the Demopolis Municipal Airport (DYA), Demopolis, Alabama. The certificated private pilot and six passengers were fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the flight that departed the Creve Coeur Airport (1H0), St. Louis, Missouri, destined for the Destin-Ft. Walton Beach Airport (DTS), Destin, Florida. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.

The airplane was based at DTS, and owned by the pilot through a limited liability company. According to witnesses, the pilot, his wife, and five children departed from 1H0 about 1520. According to preliminary information obtained from the FAA, the pilot was in cruise flight at flight level 210 (21,000 feet), and in contact with the Atlanta air route traffic control center when he declared an emergency due to a rough running engine. He diverted to DYA, which was located 12 o'clock and 5 miles from the airplane's position. The pilot was switched to Meridian Approach while descending through 17,500 feet. He subsequently confirmed that he had shut down the right engine and reported the airport in sight. The pilot was cleared for a visual approach and then approved for a frequency change to the local common traffic advisory frequency, when the airplane was about 3 miles east of the airport. There were no further communications received from the airplane. The airplane's radar track was consistent with an approach to runway 22, a 5,002-foot-long, 100-foot-wide, asphalt runway, when radar contact was lost at 1739, at an altitude of 800 feet.

The airplane impacted trees in a wooded area, about .8 miles north of the runway 22 threshold. The airplane came to rest inverted, in a flat attitude, on a course of about 100 degrees. The cockpit, the cabin 40-inches forward of the tail cone, and the left wing were consumed by fire. A series of tree strikes were observed about 50 feet above the ground, approximately 70 feet south of the main wreckage. All major portions of the airplane were accounted for at the accident site. There was no longitudinal deformation of the fuselage noted. The radar dome was observed installed and retained its shape. All three landing gear actuators were observed in the extended position. Portions of the flaps that were not compromised due to fire and or impact damage were extended approximately 40 degrees.

The entire right wing was separated at the root and came to rest against a tree adjacent to the main wreckage. The right engine propeller was observed at or near a feathered position. The left engine and propeller were fire damaged. Initial examination of the airframe and the left engine assembly did not reveal any catastrophic inflight mechanical failures; however, during initial examination of the right engine assembly, after the right engine fuel pump was removed, significant damage was observed on the camshaft gear teeth.

The wreckage, including both engines and propellers was retained for further examination. Initial review of maintenance records revealed that airplane's most recent annual inspection was performed on January 19, 2011.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov