Cessna 421 accident near Houston, Texas, May 6, 2022
On May 6, 2022 at about 7:18 pm local time, a 1976 Cessna 421, registered XBFQS, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Houston, Texas (William P Hobby airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The fixed-base operator’s incorrect fueling of the airplane, which resulted in a total loss of power in both engines.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 6, 2022 · about 7:18 pm local time
- Place
- Houston, Texas · William P Hobby · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 421 C, built 1976 · all 421s on the register
- Registration
- XBFQS · no longer on the register · serial 421C-0085
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, before the flight, the airplane was fueled with 140 gallons of Jet A fuel. Shortly after takeoff, both engines lost total power. Because the airplane had insufficient altitude to return to the airport, the pilot executed a forced landing to a field and the left wing sustained substantial damage. A postcrash fire ensued. The investigation determined that the airplane was inadvertently fueled with Jet A fuel rather than AVGAS, which was required for the airplane’s reciprocating engines. The line service worker who fueled the airplane reported that there were no decals at the airplane fuel ports; however, postaccident examination of the airplane found that a decal specifying AVGAS was present at the right-wing fuel port. The investigation could not determine whether the same or a similar decal was present at the left-wing fuel port because the left wing was partially consumed during the postimpact fire.)
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
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Fuel related during initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Airport personnel
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid type
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Incorrect service/maintenance
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,025 hours in all; 951 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 3,974 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 15, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,197 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, November 3, 2021; 38 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,850 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Continental GTSIO-520-L (piston); 428 hours total
- Engine 2: Continental GTSIO-520-L (piston); 428 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: HOU Houston TX at 7:15 pm
- Destination: SAT San Antonio TX
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 13R, 7,602 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,200 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 pm from KHOU, 2 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KHOU 061853Z 11009KT 10SM SCT032 31/23 A2987
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on August 15, 2023. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Accident Photos | PDF, 8 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Statements -- Fixed Base Operator | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Airplane Fueling Documentation -- Fixed Base Operator | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.