Cessna 421C accident near Kokomo, Indiana, May 22, 2007
On May 22, 2007 at about 11:05 am local time, a Cessna 421C, registered N85SC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kokomo, Indiana (Kokomo Muni airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot not obtaining proper alignment with the runway during the emergency landing after takeoff, which imparted an excessive side load on the landing gear. Factors contributing to the accident were the unstabilized approach and engine shutdown due to the oil leak.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 22, 2007 · about 11:05 am local time
- Place
- Kokomo, Indiana · Kokomo Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 421C · all 421Cs on the register
- Registration
- N85SC · registry record · serial 421C0026
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The aircraft executed an emergency landing after takeoff. Shortly after takeoff, the pilot observed smoke coming from the left engine. As he started his turn back towards the airport, he discovered oil leaking from the inboard side of the left engine cowling. He shut down the left engine, feathered the propeller, and turned final for the runway (4,001 feet by 150 feet, asphalt). He noticed that he was too high and east of the centerline, and started making his correction while still carrying a lot of power with the right engine. As he landed, the right main gear touched first followed by the left main gear. The left main gear collapsed. The airplane then departed the left side of the runway into the grass, where the nose gear and right main gear subsequently collapsed.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,470 hours in all; 84 in this make and model; 202 in the last 90 days; 90 in the last 30 days; 2,383 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,422 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 1, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 7,579 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Teledyne Continental GTSIO-520-L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OKK Kokomo IN
- Destination: RSN Ruston LA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 32, 4,001 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observation at 10:55 am from KGUS, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
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.