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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

October 3, 1994 · Cessna 421B · N701AM

Stuart, FL

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
October 3, 1994
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (7 uninjured)
Location
Stuart, FL
Aircraft
Cessna 421B
Tail Number
N701AM
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
MIA95LA002

AFTER TAKEOFF TOWER CONTROLLERS TOLD THE PILOT THAT THEY SAW SMOKE TRAILING FROM THE RIGHT ENGINE. THE PILOT ELECTED TO RETURN TO THE FIELD FOR LANDING, AND LOWERED THE LANDING GEAR AND OBSERVED THE GEAR DOWN INDICATIONS. ON LANDING ROLL THE GEAR COLLAPSED. AFTER THE AIRPLANE WAS RECOVERED AND PLACED ON JACKS IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE LANDING GEAR SAFETY SWITCH WAS CONTAMINATED WITH WATER, CORRODED AND IMPROPERLY RIGGED.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE IMPROPER RIGGING OF THE LANDING GEAR SAFETY SQUAT SWITCH BY OTHER MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE CONTAMINATION OF THE GEAR SQUAT SWITCH WITH CORROSION AND WATER.

Full Narrative

On October 3, 1994, about 0753, eastern daylight time, N701AM, a Cessna C-421B, registered to and operated by Air Mobile Ministries, experienced an all-landing gears collapse on landing at Whitman Field, Stuart, Florida. The flight was a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. The planned destination was Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and a VFR flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged and the pilot and six passengers reported no injuries. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot stated that after takeoff the landing gear would not come up so he placed the gear handle in the down position and observed three green lights. On landing roll the gear collapsed. The one passenger who was on board was an FAA employee in a duty travel status, from the San Juan, Puerto Rico, Flight Standards District Office. Examination of the landing gear safety switch [Squat] by FAA personnel revealed that the switch was corroded, full of water and was improperly rigged. FAA personnel also reported the airplane weight and balance data used by the pilot for takeoff computations was in error, and the airplane was about 200 pounds over gross weight on departure.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time07:53 EDT
Nearest AirportWitham Field (0nm)
Runway29
Runway Length5000 ft
Runway Width200 ft
Flight Plan FiledVFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 421B
Tail NumberN701AM
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · GTSIO-520-H · Reciprocating · 375
Seats9

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (7 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured7
Total7
Crew 1Age 43 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility7 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 25000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point54
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time11:55
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data