Cessna 421B accident near Jefferson, Georgia, September 25, 1990
On September 25, 1990 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Cessna 421B, registered N316MH, was destroyed in an accident near Jefferson, Georgia (Jackson County airport). It was an executive or corporate flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO PERFORM THE CORRECT EMERGENCY PROCEDURES, WHEN CONFRONTED WITH A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN MINIMUM CONTROL SPEED (VMC), WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 25, 1990 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Jefferson, Georgia · Jackson County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 421B · all 421Bs on the register
- Registration
- N316MH · registry record · serial 421B0327
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Executive or corporate flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ACFT WAS SEEN FLYING LOW OVR TREES, FLWD BY A RAPID ROLL TO THE LEFT & A COLLISION WITH WOODED TRRN. ONE WITNESS RPRTD SEEING GRAY SMOKE TRAILING THE LEFT ENG BFR THE CRASH. AN INSPN OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THE LEFT ENGINE SPARK PLUGS WERE BLACK & HEAVILY SOOTED. NEITHER PROP HAD BEEN FEATHERED BFR THE ACDNT. THE LNDG GEAR WAS FND IN AN EXTENDED PSN. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT CESSNA MULTI-ENG SVC BULLETIN (SB) 88-3 WAS NOT COMPLIED WITH. THIS SB MODIFIED THE FUEL SYS TO PROVIDE FOR DRCT PLT (RATHER THAN AUTOMATIC) ACTUATION OF THE OUTPUT PRESSURE OF THE AUXILIARY FUEL PUMPS. BOTH ENGS RAN SATISFACTORILY ON A TEST STAND FLWG THE ACDNT. NO OTR EVIDENCE OF MECH FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FND.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 3,800 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,004 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 9, 1990; 134 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,450 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental GTSIO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 19A at 4:29 pm
- Destination: GSP Greer SC
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 16, 4,108 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from AHN, 16 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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.