Cessna 421B incident near Lagrange, Georgia, February 28, 1994
On February 28, 1994 at about 8:15 pm local time, a Cessna 421B, registered N421HA, suffered minor damage in an incident near Lagrange, Georgia (Lagrange-Callaway airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INTENTIONAL SWERVE OFF THE TAXIWAY TO AVOID A GROUND COLLISION. A FACTOR IN THE INCIDENT WAS AN UNDETERMINED MALFUNCTION OF THE AIRPLANE'S NORMAL BRAKE SYSTEM.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 28, 1994 · about 8:15 pm local time
- Place
- Lagrange, Georgia · Lagrange-Callaway · map
- Type
- Incident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 421B · all 421Bs on the register
- Registration
- N421HA · registry record · serial 421B0939
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE THE PILOT WAS TAXIING FOR ANOTHER TAKEOFF AFTER COMPLETING A FULL STOP LANDING, THE PASSENGER REPORTED HE WAS ASKED TO CHECK THE RIGHT BRAKE. HE THEN PUMPED THE BRAKE BUT IT DID NOT RESPOND. AT THIS POINT THE PILOT APPLIED LEFT BRAKING AND SWERVED THE AIRPLANE OFF THE TAXIWAY TO AVOID, ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, WHAT HE FELT WAS AN IMMINENT COLLISION WITH ANOTHER TAXIING AIRPLANE. DURING THE SWERVE MANEUVER ONE OF THE LEFT PROPELLER BLADES STRUCK A TAXIWAY LIGHT. THIS ACTION WAS TAKEN WHEN THE PILOT BELIEVED THAT THE RIGHT WHEEL BRAKE WAS NOT FULLY OPERATIONAL AND CAPABLE OF STOPPING THE AIRCRAFT. THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE TWO APPROACHING AIRPLANES WAS IN EXCESS OF 300 FT. SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION OF THE BRAKE ASSEMBLY FAILED TO DISCLOSE A MECHANICAL PROBLEM. THE DIRECTOR OF MAINTENANCE STATED THAT THERE HAD NOT BEEN ANY OTHER PILOT REPORTS OF BRAKING PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRPLANE BEFORE OR AFTER THE OCCURRENCE.
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; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,000 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,147 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, February 18, 1994; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,450 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental GTSIO-520-H (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Federal Aviation Admin
The flight
- Departed from: FTY Atlanta GA at 5:19 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 5,600 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:15 pm from LGC
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| 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.