Cessna 421 accident near Munford, Alabama, February 14, 2001
On February 14, 2001, a Cessna 421, registered N5AY, was destroyed in an accident near Munford, Alabama (Talladega, Al airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 5 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot continued visual flight into instrument weather conditions that resulted in the inflight collision with a river bank. Factors were reduced visibility and dark night.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 14, 2001
- Place
- Munford, Alabama · Talladega, Al · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- 5 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 421 · all 421s on the register
- Registration
- N5AY · no longer on the register · serial 421-0133
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot and passengers were on a instrument flight returning home. When they were within range of the destination airport, the controller cleared the flight for an instrument approach. Moment later the pilot canceled his instrument flight plan and told the controller that he was below the weather. Low clouds, reduced visibility and fog existed at the destination airport at the time of the accident. The airplane collided with a river bank as the pilot maneuvered for the visual approach. The post-crash examination of the airplane failed to disclose a mechanical problem.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,000 hours in all; 29 in this make and model; 415 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: August 9, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,887 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 2, 2001; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,800 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Continental GTSIO-520D (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Continental GTSIO-520D (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: HAO Hamilton OH at 9:57 pm
- Destination: ASN Talladega AL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 3, 6,002 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 050° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 800 ft; scat at 200 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.28 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.