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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

November 9, 1990 · Cessna 421B · N21ST

Flamingo, FL

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
November 9, 1990
Injury Outcomes
3 injuries (3 fatalities)
Location
Flamingo, FL
Aircraft
Cessna 421B
Tail Number
N21ST
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
MIA91FA023

As the acft (N21ST) was en route on a flt from Key West to Naples, FL, the plt of another acft saw a 'fire ball' in the vcnty of where N21ST subsequently crashed. When N21ST did not arrive, a search was initiated. The wreckage was fnd the next day at 1704 EST, in the Everglades Natl Park, nr Flamingo, FL. Drg impact, the main wreckage was buried in 30' of mud. The left outboard wing section (fm just outboard of the eng nacelle to the wing tip) was fnd aprx 1 mi fm the mainwreckage. An exam revealed the wing had failed where the nacelle fuel tank & the aux fuel tank boost pumps were mounted. No exhaust sys failure or leakage fm the fuel tanks was fnd in the area of the fire. The greatest fire dmg was at a point where the left nacelle fuel tank boost pump was mounted & aft fm there to where the rear wing spar had burned thru. The elec fuel boost pumps were not recovered after the acdnt. The ignition source for the fire was not determined.

NTSB Probable Cause

AN UNDETERMINED AIRFRAME/COMPONENT/SYSTEM FAILURE/MALFUNCTION, WHICH RESULTED IN A FUEL FED FIRE IN THE LEFT WING.

Full Narrative

AS THE ACFT (N21ST) WAS EN ROUTE ON A FLT FROM KEY WEST TO NAPLES, FL, THE PLT OF ANOTHER ACFT SAW A 'FIRE BALL' IN THE VCNTY OF WHERE N21ST SUBSEQUENTLY CRASHED. WHEN N21ST DID NOT ARRIVE, A SEARCH WAS INITIATED. THE WRECKAGE WAS FND THE NEXT DAY AT 1704 EST, IN THE EVERGLADES NATL PARK, NR FLAMINGO, FL. DRG IMPACT, THE MAIN WRECKAGE WAS BURIED IN 30' OF MUD. THE LEFT OUTBOARD WING SECTION (FM JUST OUTBOARD OF THE ENG NACELLE TO THE WING TIP) WAS FND APRX 1 MI FM THE MAINWRECKAGE. AN EXAM REVEALED THE WING HAD FAILED WHERE THE NACELLE FUEL TANK & THE AUX FUEL TANK BOOST PUMPS WERE MOUNTED.NO EXHAUST SYS FAILURE OR LEAKAGE FM THE FUEL TANKS WAS FND IN THE AREA OF THE FIRE. THE GREATEST FIRE DMG WAS AT A POINT WHERE THE LEFT NACELLE FUEL TANK BOOST PUMP WAS MOUNTED & AFT FM THERE TO WHERE THE REAR WING SPAR HAD BURNED THRU. THE ELEC FUEL BOOST PUMPS WERE NOT RECOVERED AFTER THE ACDNT. THE IGNITION SOURCE FOR THE FIRE WAS NOT DETERMINED.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time14:47 EST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireIflt
Aircraft ExplosionIflt

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 421B
Tail NumberN21ST
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · GTSIO-520-H · Reciprocating · 375
Seats8

People & Injuries

Injury Summary3 injuries (3 fatalities)
Fatal3
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total3
Crew 1Age 69 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind120° @ 15 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingOvercast 10000 ft
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time18:55
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data