Cessna 421C accident near Greenville, Mississippi, May 29, 2001
On May 29, 2001 at about 12:15 pm local time, a Cessna 421C, registered N51ER, was substantially damaged in an accident near Greenville, Mississippi (Mid Delta Regional airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 8 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The improper installation by maintenance personnel of the push-pull rod assembly on the right elevator trim tab horn resulted in an in-flight separation of the right elevator trim tab.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 29, 2001 · about 12:15 pm local time
- Place
- Greenville, Mississippi · Mid Delta Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 8 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 421C · all 421Cs on the register
- Registration
- N51ER · registry record · serial 421C0280
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane experienced a flight control problem while in cruise flight. The airplane exhibited a nose-down pitch tendency. The pilot executed a controlled descent to the nearest airport and executed a gear-up, no-flap landing on the runway. Neither the pilot nor the seven passengers were injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. Examination of the airplane revealed the right elevator trim tab was not attached to the right elevator. The push-pull rod was not connected to the right elevator trim tab horn, and the bolt and hardware that connected the push-pull rod to the right elevator trim tab horn were missing. The trim actuator rod was bent.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,904 hours in all; 1,200 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 6,334 as pilot in command; 870 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 1, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,250 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 2001; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,450 lb
- Seats: 9
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Teledyne Cont GTSI0520L4B (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Teledyne Cont GTSI0520L3B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ASG Springdale AK at 11:00 am
- Destination: DTS Destin FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 36R, 8,001 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 11:50 am from GLH
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 7 |
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.