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July 14, 1988 · Cessna 421 · N825DW

Taunton, MA

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 14, 1988
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Taunton, MA
Aircraft
Cessna 421
Tail Number
N825DW
Operator
Vadala Management
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
NYC88FA181

BFR RCHG HIS DESTN, THE PLT ADZD APCH CTL THAT HIS RGT ENG WAS 'BLOWING SOME SMOKE' & LOSING OIL PRESSURE. VECTORS WERE PROVIDED FOR A VISUAL APCH, BUT THERE WERE LOW CLOUDS IN THE AREA & VIS WAS RESTRICTED DUE TO HAZE. AFTER REACHING THE VCNTY OF THE ARPT, THE PLT SAID IT WAS IN SIGHT & HE WAS ENTERING A DOWNWIND FOR RWY 30. WITNESSES SAW THE ACFT ON A LEFT DOWNWIND, BUT SAID THE ACFT OVERSHOT THE 1ST TURN TO FINAL APCH. SUBSEQUENTLY, WHILE MANEUVERING TO LAND, THE ACFT CRASHED APRX 2500' NE OF THE RWY IN A WOODED AREA. WITNESSES AGREED THE ACFT WAS SLOW & IN A STEEP RGT TURN WITH THE GEAR EXTD BFR IT CRASHED IN A STEEP DSCNT & BURNED. AN EXAM REVEALED EVIDENCE THE STARTER ON THE RGT ENG HAD BACKED OFF; 3 STARTER BOLTS HAD FRACTURED THRU THE THREADED AREA WITH SIGNS OF FATIGUE CRACKING; WEAR MARKS ON THE STARTER GEAR & ENG GEAR RING INDCD THE STARTER MOTOR HAD SHIFTED APRX 3/4' REARWARD. ALSO, THERE WAS EVIDENCE THE TORSIONAL DAMPER WAS LOOSE ON ITS SHAFT BFR THE ACDNT & THAT BOTH PROPS WERE OPERG AT LOW PITCH DRG INITIAL IMPACT.

Full Narrative

BFR RCHG HIS DESTN, THE PLT ADZD APCH CTL THAT HIS RGT ENG WAS 'BLOWING SOME SMOKE' & LOSING OIL PRESSURE. VECTORS WERE PROVIDED FOR A VISUAL APCH, BUT THERE WERE LOW CLOUDS IN THE AREA & VIS WAS RESTRICTED DUE TO HAZE. AFTER REACHING THE VCNTY OF THE ARPT, THE PLT SAID IT WAS IN SIGHT & HE WAS ENTERING A DOWNWIND FOR RWY 30. WITNESSES SAW THE ACFT ON A LEFT DOWNWIND, BUT SAID THE ACFT OVERSHOT THE 1ST TURN TO FINAL APCH. SUBSEQUENTLY, WHILE MANEUVERING TO LAND, THE ACFT CRASHED APRX 2500' NE OF THE RWY IN A WOODED AREA. WITNESSES AGREED THE ACFT WAS SLOW & IN A STEEP RGT TURN WITH THE GEAR EXTD BFR IT CRASHED IN A STEEP DSCNT & BURNED. AN EXAM REVEALED EVIDENCE THE STARTER ON THE RGT ENG HAD BACKED OFF; 3 STARTER BOLTS HAD FRACTURED THRU THE THREADED AREA WITH SIGNS OF FATIGUE CRACKING; WEAR MARKS ON THE STARTER GEAR & ENG GEAR RING INDCD THE STARTER MOTOR HAD SHIFTED APRX 3/4' REARWARD. ALSO, THERE WAS EVIDENCE THE TORSIONAL DAMPER WAS LOOSE ON ITS SHAFT BFR THE ACDNT & THAT BOTH PROPS WERE OPERG AT LOW PITCH DRG INITIAL IMPACT.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time19:29 EDT
Nearest AirportTaunton Muni (0nm N)
Runway30
Runway Length3500 ft
Runway Width75 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 421
Tail NumberN825DW
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorVadala Management
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · GTSIO-520-D · Reciprocating · 375
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 41 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsUnknown
LightDaylight
Wind190° @ 8 kt
Visibility1 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point3 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time23:45
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data