Cessna 421C accident near Wichita, Kansas, January 30, 2009
On January 30, 2009 at about 2:10 pm local time, a Cessna 421C, registered N345JB, was substantially damaged in an accident during prior to flight near Wichita, Kansas (Colonel James Jabara Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of line personnel to ensure that the airplane was serviced with the proper fuel. Contributing to the accident was the Federal Aviation Administration's approval of a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) which allowed an improper fuel filler opening, and the complacency in non-standard fueling practices by fixed base operator (FBO) line personnel.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 30, 2009 · about 2:10 pm local time
- Place
- Wichita, Kansas · Colonel James Jabara Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 421C · all 421Cs on the register
- Registration
- N345JB · registry record · serial 421C0494
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During initial climb, the air transport pilot reported a loss of engine power. Unable to return to a runway, the pilot elected to perform a gear-up forced landing to an open field. The twin-engine airplane was substantially damaged during the landing. A line person employed by the fixed base operator (FBO) incorrectly fueled the airplane with 80 gallons of Jet-A instead of 100LL. Two medium single-engine general aviation airplanes based at the FBO had been modified with turbo-prop engines requiring Jet-A fuel. The two modified airplanes were not required by Supplement Type Certificate to modify the fuel filler opening, allowing the airplane to operate with smaller fuel filler openings,which did not comply with certification regulations. Line personnel at the FBO discovered that by rotating the Jet-A nozzle and dispensing at a reduced pressure, Jet-A fuel could be dispensed without using the adapter. Despite having correctly fueled the accident airplane in the past, the line person mistook the accident airplane for one of the converted airplanes and dispensed Jet-A fuel.
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
What happened, in order
- Wrong fuel during prior to flight defining event
- Loss of engine power (total) during initial climb
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Incorrect service/maintenance
- factor Organizational issues › Development › Selection/certification/testin › Equip certification/testing › FAA/Regulator
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid type
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › (general) › (general) › Ground crew
- factor Personnel issues › Psychological › Personality/attitude › Complacency › Ground crew
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 22,053 hours in all; 49 in this make and model; 84 in the last 90 days; 35 in the last 30 days; 15,038 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 21, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,034 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 6, 2008; 81 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,450 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Continental GTSIO-520-L (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: GTSIO-520-L (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Fly High INC
The flight
- Departed from: AAO Wichita KS at 2:08 pm
- Destination: MLE Omaha NE
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 16°F (-9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observation at 1:54 pm from AAO, 3 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.