Cessna 421B accident near Fort Payne, Alabama, April 15, 1993
On April 15, 1993 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Cessna 421B, registered N14A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fort Payne, Alabama (Isbell Field). 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 PILOT'S FAILURE TO COMPENSATE FOR WINDS DURING THE INITIAL TAKEOFF THAT RESULTED IN THE AIRPLANE COLLIDING WITH THE RUNWAY, EXCEEDING THE DESIGN LIMITS OF THE AIRCRAFT AND UPON LANDING AT THE DESTINATION AIRPORT, THE COLLAPSE OF THE MAIN LANDING GEAR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 15, 1993 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Fort Payne, Alabama · Isbell Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 8 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 421B · all 421Bs on the register
- Registration
- N14A · registry record · serial 421-0373
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A DOWNDRAFT AT LIFTOFF, DURING THE INITIAL TAKEOFF, WHICH RESULTED IN THE AIRPLANE SETTLING BACK ON THE RUNWAY. HE ELECTED TO CONTINUE THE FLIGHT, SINCE THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF A LANDING GEAR PROBLEM. DURING THE TOUCHDOWN PHASE OF THE APPROACH, AT THE DESTINATION AIRPORT, THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR AND NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED. THE WRECKAGE EXAMINATION DISCLOSED OVERLOAD STRUCTURAL DAMAGE IN THE RIGHT WHEEL WELL AND TO THE RIGHT WING CONSISTENT WITH DAMAGE SUSTAINED DURING A HARD LANDING.
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 sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 23,000 hours in all; 4,000 in this make and model; 22,500 as pilot in command; 1,500 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,782 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 1992
- Maximum gross weight: 7,450 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental GTSI0-520-H (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Southern Airways INC.
The flight
- Departed from: DKX Knoxville TN at 6:30 pm
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 22, 4,200 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:00 pm from HSV, 55 miles away
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.
Other NTSB records under N14A the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.