Cessna 421C accident near Wooster, Ohio, October 11, 1985
On October 11, 1985 at about 1:05 pm local time, a Cessna 421C, registered N59EP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wooster, Ohio (Wayne County airport). It was an executive or corporate 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 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 11, 1985 · about 1:05 pm local time
- Place
- Wooster, Ohio · Wayne County · 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
- N59EP · registry record · serial 421C1011
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Executive or corporate flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THAT THE RIGHT ENG MANIFOLD PRESSURE DECREASED TO 22 INCHES JUST AFTER LIFTOFF. HE ABORTED THE TAKEOFF AND PUT THE ACFT BACK ON THE RWY. THE ACFT RAN OFF THE END OF THE RWY, CROSSED A ROAD AND HIT A DITCH SHEARING THE LANDING GEAR. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION AND FUNCTIONAL TESTING OF THE RIGHT ENG BY THE NTSB REVEALED NO DEFECTS AND THE ENG OPERATED NORMALLY ON THE TEST STAND.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,136 hours in all; 508 in this make and model; 165 in the last 90 days; 5,978 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,255 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 8, 1985; 42 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,450 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental GTSIO-520-N (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: APF Naples FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 9, 4,400 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,500 ft; scat at 500 ft
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:50 pm from CAK, 26 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.