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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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NTSB Report

April 13, 2016 · Cessna 421C · N21SG

Death Valley, CA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 13, 2016
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (3 uninjured)
Location
Death Valley, CA
Aircraft
Cessna 421C (1976)
Tail Number
N21SG
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
WPR16LA092

The airline transport pilot was landing the airplane at the end of a cross-country flight. He stated that the airplane touched down within the first 500 ft of the 3,065-ft-long runway and that, when he applied the brakes, the right brake felt "very soft" and was "totally ineffective." The airplane departed the end of the runway, and the nose landing gear collapsed, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage. The airplane was not examined following the accident and was subsequently ferried to another airport for repair. No information was made available regarding the right brake, and the reason for the brake malfunction during landing could not be determined.

NTSB Probable Cause

A runway overrun for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.

Full Narrative

On April 13, 2016, about 1105 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 421C airplane, N21SG, was substantially damaged during a runway excursion while landing at Furnace Creek Airport (L06), Death Valley National Park, California. The airline transport pilot and two passengers were not injured. The airplane was privately owned and was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the flight, which originated from St. George Regional Airport (SGU), St. George, Utah, about 0945. The pilot stated that the flight was uneventful and that he entered the airport traffic pattern to land on runway 33 at L06. He stated that the airplane touched down within the first 500 ft of runway, and that upon application of brakes, he found the right brake "very soft" and "totally ineffective." The airplane departed the end of the 3,065-foot-long runway and the nose landing gear collapsed, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. The airplane was not examined following the accident and was subsequently ferried from L06 to another airport for repair. No information was made available regarding the right brake, and the reason for the malfunction during landing could not be determined. The pilot did not submit the National Transportation Safety Board Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident report form 6120.1.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time11:05 PDT
Nearest AirportFurnace Creek Airport (0nm)
Runway33
Runway Length3065 ft
Runway Width70 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 421C
Tail NumberN21SG
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsCont Motor · GTSIO-520 SER · Reciprocating · 375 | Cont Motor · GTSIO-520 SER · Reciprocating · 375
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (3 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured3
Total3
Crew 1Age 49 · First Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind240° @ 9 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point70 F / 43 C
Altimeter30.05 inHg
Observation Time17:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data