Cessna 421C accident near Kenedy, Texas, September 11, 2012
On September 11, 2012 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Cessna 421C, registered N5534G, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Kenedy, Texas (Karnes County Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent collapse of the landing gear.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 11, 2012 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Kenedy, Texas · Karnes County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 421C · all 421Cs on the register
- Registration
- N5534G · no longer on the register · serial 421C0247
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot, who had purchased the airplane the day before the accident, was on a cross-country flight with three other occupants. While landing at an airport, the airplane landed hard and collapsed the landing gear; the fuselage sustained substantial damage. The pilot did not report any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Landing gear collapse during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 594 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: January 16, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: unk
- Injury: no injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Continental GTSIO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Continental GTSIO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KGDJ Granbury TX at 6:45 pm
- Destination: 2R9 Kenedy TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 3,218 ft by 60 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 7 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 95°F (35°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 8:15 pm from KBEA, 28 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| 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.