Cessna 421C accident near St. Petersburg, Florida, December 8, 1996
On December 8, 1996 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Cessna 421C, registered N5195C, was substantially damaged in an accident near St. Petersburg, Florida (Clearwater airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
improper installation of the new starter adapter by maintenance personnel.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 8, 1996 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- St. Petersburg, Florida · Clearwater
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 421C · all 421Cs on the register
- Registration
- N5195C · no longer on the register · serial 421CO656
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight departed the airport in visual meteorological conditions. Shortly after takeoff, the pilot experienced a rough running right engine and a subsequent total loss of right engine power. The pilot elected to return to the airport for an emergency landing. The pilot stated he immediately shut down the right engine and feathered the propeller. The airplane collided with some trees and the ground as he maneuvered for the emergency landing. Service Bulletin, CSB 94-4, was issued on June 13, 1994, regarding starter adapter shaft gear and crank gear inspections. This bulletin required inspection and/or replacement of the starter adapter and crankshaft gear teeth. The right engine inspection disclosed that the holes of the starter adapter displayed marks typical of misalignment during installation of the adapter.
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: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,294 hours in all; 1,577 in this make and model; 88 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,228 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 2, 1995
- Maximum gross weight: 7,500 lb
- Seats: 0
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental GTSIO-520-L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PIE at 5:25 pm
- Destination: OJC Olathe MO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 8,500 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:35 pm from PIE
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.