Cessna 401B accident near Toussus-Le-Noble, Outside the U.S., October 30, 2020
On October 30, 2020 at about 3:26 pm local time, a Cessna 401B, registered N517HC, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach near Toussus-Le-Noble, Outside the U.S.. It was a flight test under non-U.S. private rules. No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 30, 2020 · about 3:26 pm local time
- Place
- Toussus-Le-Noble, France · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Cessna 401B · all 401Bs on the register
- Registration
- N517HC · no longer on the register · serial 401B0048
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight test · non-U.S. private rules
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Fire/smoke (non-impact) during approach
- Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail during approach defining event
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 12,499 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check 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.